The Riyadh-Tehran Conflict: 1979 and Its Logic

This article examines the year 1979 as a turning point in Middle Eastern history, sparking an intense conflict between Riyadh and Tehran. The analysis focuses on three key events: the Iranian Revolution, the siege of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which fundamentally shifted the regional balance of power. The article explores in detail the ideological foundations of the rivalry, including the differences between Saudi Wahhabism and the Iranian concept of wilāyat al-faqīh, and their impact on the legitimacy of power. Furthermore, the article presents numerous examples of proxy wars and interventions in the region and examines geoeconomic aspects of the conflict, such as control of strategic trade routes and oil policy.