In a television appearance last month, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman stated his desire “to have good relations” with the Islamic Republic of Iran—a major rhetorical reversal from his attitude over the past several years. This declaration is one of a few recent, ambiguous signs of a possible détente in the conflict that has been more central to Middle Eastern geopolitics in the past half century than that between Israel and the Palestinians. In conversation with Russell Berman, Kim Ghattas explains the rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh from its origins in the annus horribilis of 1979 to the present, and its role in the rise of jihadist terrorism from Lebanon to Pakistan. (Audio, 54 minutes.)
Read more on Caravan: https://www.hoover.org/research/competition-between-saudi-arabia-and-iran-1979