RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION AFTER THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION: GEOPOLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

As is known, after the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution, Tehran's foreign policy changed dramatically. Against the background of the transformations that have taken place, there have been serious tensions in Iran's relations not only with the West and Israel, but also with the Arab monarchies in the Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia. Looking at the history of relations between the two countries, it is clear that even before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, relations between Tehran and Riyadh could not be called so warm. However, after the Islamic Revolution, Iran's declaration of the principle of "export of the revolution" as a priority of state policy helped to turn relations into an open confrontation. It is true that there has been no open war between the parties so far. However, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are trying to secure their interests through various religious groups, preferring the tactics of "indirect war" against each other.
The basis of this competition is two important factors - geopolitical and ideological factors. Both countries seek to control the strategic points of the Gulf region and ensure the political triumph of their ideology. Recent developments in the region, as well as Iran's position on expanding its nuclear program, suggest that this competition will intensify in the near future.