A Saudi soldier fires a mortar toward a Houthi movement position, at the Saudi border with Yemen, April 21, 2015. (photo by REUTERS)
Ali Omidi, Al-Monitor: Five reasons why Iran-Saudi conflict won't escalate
Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been tense ever since the establishment of the Islamic Republic back in 1979. Initially, Iran’s doctrine of exporting its revolution and its leaders’ negative view of countries such as Saudi Arabia, together with Riyadh’s creation of the Gulf Cooperation Council and support for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime during its 1980-1988 war with Iran, led to mutual political pessimism. Ties were further strained in 1987 after the massacre of over 400 Iranian pilgrims by Saudi security forces in the holy city of Mecca. With the passing of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989, followed by the pragmatic presidency of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, tensions began to ease — but were never fully eliminated.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: I concur with this analysis .... they may support their proxies and try to wage economic warfare over the price of oil .... but a direct confrontation .... it is not going to happen.
2 comments:
I don't think either side is even capable of a direct confrontation. Saudi's can't even invade Yemen despite all their high-tech weapons and US support, and the Gulf would be quite an impediment to Iranian human wave tactics.
The reasons presented in this article are true; but put GCC troops in Syria or Iraq (as espoused by the U.S. presidential hopefuls) and those reasons will evaporate... Saudi troops will be in a direct faceoff with Iranian troops... that is an escalation that would quickly erupt, capability or not.
Post a Comment