Saudi-Iran Cold War and The Bipolar Islamic World

Several Islamic countries are engaged in proxy wars with each other for the last three decades or so. Increase in defense budget coupled with luxurious living style of the ruling elite has severely affected the development process in these countries. Resultantly, there is not even a single Islamic country, including those rich with natural resources, in the list of developed countries of the world. Neither there is a world class university in any of the rich Middle Eastern and other Islamic countries nor any state of the art health facilities.

The ruling elite go abroad for medical treatment while the common people rely on the local déclassé health care facilities. Millions of people from several Islamic countries have migrated to other countries due to wars and abysmal living conditions during the last two decades. Effective leadership and a true democratic setup are rare commodities in majority of the Islamic countries but the major reasons for the aforementioned state of affairs are the hostilities among themselves.

Islamic world is divided into two camps based on the sectarian affiliation. The rivalry between Saudi Arabia, the home of Sunni Islam, and Iran, a Shiite theocracy, has divided the Islamic world into two blocs.These sectarian differences have transformed into political and strategic rivalries in the contemporary world. Most of the Islamic countries have sided with one of these countries in all matters of international importance. It is obvious that Sunni majority countries side with Saudi Arabia and Shia countries side with Iran. Middle East has remained their favorite battleground over the years.

Middle East has changed dramatically since 2010, when Arab spring uprising broke out on a staggering scale. Setting aside the conspiracy theories, the main driving force for the Arab spring was a call for freedom, social justice, representative political and economic systems. It all started in Tunisia, then Egypt, Libya and now in Syria, where it has taken a rather complicated shape in the form of a civil war which has entered its sixth year. It has thus far cost the lives of more than 200,000 civilians. Millions of people have fled the country due to endless bloodshed.

A proxy war has started between different forces. On one hand, the major global powers are trying to protect their interests but on the other hand the sectarian division among Muslims has added fuel to the fire. In this particular case and in all other conflicts in Middle East, Tehran and Riyadh are standing behind at least one of the groups which has led to a cold war like situation between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia recently formed a 34 countries anti-terrorism coalition in which Iran, Iraq and Syria were not included. Several other developments during the last two decades aggravated this rivalry. In Syria, and also in the conflicts in Iraq and in Yemen, the fighting fronts run primarily along sectarian lines: Sunnis against Shiites. A fragile peace holds in Lebanon and Bahrain, but it is one that could be shattered at any time by sectarian unrest.

Saudi Arab supports the Sunni groups while Iran supports the Shia groups. All of these proxy wars and sectarian conflicts have unleashed a wave of mass migration. More than 6 million people from Syria and Iraq along with almost 3 million from Yemen migrated to nearby countries, Turkey, European countries, and other parts of the world.

At its essence, the escalation in the Middle East also has to do with America and its changing role in the world. After decades of enmity with Iran, US President Barack Obama wanted to restart a dialogue with the country. He negotiated a nuclear treaty with Tehran last year. US is hoping that the deal will limit Iran’s ability to pursue a nuclear weapon while making it possible for the country to do business with the West in return.

Saudi government has expressed its concerns over the US-Iran deal. Last year when President Obama visited Riyadh the King did not come to the airport to receive him which was a clear manifestation of his resentment. Moreover, the US senate has passed a bill recently that would let the families of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabian government for any role in the terrorist plot. Although, the White House has threatened to veto the legislation but it will further strain the US-Saudi relations.

Iran, meanwhile, following decades of isolation, has reverted to its former position of regional importance. The more Middle Eastern countries there are under the control of Shiites, the stronger Iran feels — and the more hard-pressed Saudi Arabia feels.

Last year Saudi Arabia launched a military initiative in Yemen against the Shiite Houthi rebels. Later Iran intervened which has further deteriorated the situation. Some harsh statements were issued from both sides. Some of the other countries covertly supported one or the other side. Unfortunately the ultimate victims of this tug of war were the common people.

Officials at the World Economic Forum in Davos convened a meeting between senior Saudi and Iranian officials last year to promote peace in Syria. But, the participants of the meeting clashed behind closed doors. This barbed exchange between Saudi Prince l and Iranian Foreign Minister underlined the hostility between the two Gulf rivals, who have waged proxy wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

Earlier this year Saudi Arabia executed a leading Shi’ite cleric that outraged predominantly Shi’ite Iranians. Afterwards, protests started in Iran and a large number of protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Iran. After two weeks, Riyadh broke off diplomatic relations and cut off trade and transport ties with Tehran.

This Cold War between Sunni and Shia Muslim countries affects the entire world. Instead of wasting their resources on proxy wars they need to invest these resources on the welfare of their masses. The Organization of Islamic cooperation (OIC) needs to wake up from its deep sleep and the member states especially the influential and “rich” countries should play their due role in creating an atmosphere of cooperation among Islamic countries. The International community also needs to mediate peace process between Riyadh and Tehran which will go a long way in making this world peaceful and prosperous.