Iran and Saudi Arabia: Potential for Conflict or Uneasy Peace?

Abstract

The relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been a tenuous one since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This study investigates the type of threat Iran poses to Saudi Arabia and how the Saudi government will respond. The threat is not just a military one. Iran also poses a threat to the Saudi economy and its political stability. In short, Iran seeks regional dominance and Saudi Arabia is standing in its way. The Iranian government has rebuilt its military, sponsored violent organizations like Hezbollah, and threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz. These actions threaten the security of Saudi Arabia as well as its legitimacy in the Arab world. The evolving relationship of these two nations will continue to impact the Middle East and possibly the world.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 11, 2009
Accession Number
ADA512530

Entities

People

  • Darren A. Sundys

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Arabia
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • Iraqi-War
  • Middle East
  • Military Organizations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Naval Warfare
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Security
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles
  • United States
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Business

Readers

  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Strategic Security Studies