CAUSES OF THE DIVERGENT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA DURING THE REIGN OF SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ (2015-2020)

Abstract

This study investigates the causes of the divergence between Iran and Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2020. Considering the situation in the Middle East and viewpoint of countries in this region to the conditions of their environment and the relationship between these two countries since the establishment of Saudi Arabia, the theory of aggressive realism as a theoretical framework and analytical descriptive method has been used in the study. After the theoretical framework, the relationship between the two countries before the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the conflicts between two countries from the victory of the Islamic Revolution till the beginning of King Salman government have been examined. then, the impact of King Salman reign on relationships between the two countries and their conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon and Palestine will be studied below. The type and level of Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States and Israel during this period, and the impact of these relations on Iran-Saudi Arabia relations will be examined. Because the United States is a superpower and has an active presence in the Middle East, one of the main reasons for this issue is the rich resources of the Middle East. Iran and the United States define each other as enemies. So the United States, in cooperation with Saudi Arabia has worked to the detriment of Iran.Saudi Arabia and Israel have greatly expanded their cooperation, especially Information cooperation since the beginning of King Salman’s government and the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In addition, with the Crown Prince of bin Salman, who was against the royal family's law, the situation within this family has become so complicated.Saudi geopolitical bottlenecks have led to an attack on Yemen, which itself, along with declining oil prices and rising Saudi production to hit Iran, has led Saudi Arabia facing budget deficit. Bin Salman has repeatedly said he is trying to drag the war into Iran. Saudi Arabia has also sought to maintain its competitiveness by building a nuclear balance against Iran.