Recent Developments in Saudi Arabia and Security Threat against Islamic Republic of Iran

Over the past few months, Saudi Arabia has been subject to certain developments at different domestic, regional and international levels. These include Saudi mass purchase of arms from the US, tensions in it's realations with Qatar, appointment of Mohammad bin Salman as crown prince, and exposing it's ties with the Zionist regime. What’s considerable in all of these developments is the Saudis’ attempts to portray the Islamic Republic of Iran’s regional influence as a threat and using it as a pretext. These developments have attracted the attention of political and military elites in Iran and strategic affairs analysts look at the threats arising from them with special sensitivity. Given the diversity of the nature of threats and the importance of the role that security threats play in the fate of a country, the main objective of this paper is to examine the nature of these threats. Hence, the following question was raised to be investigated: What is the nature of the threats posed against Iran originating from recent developments in Saudi Arabia? To answer the question, an analysis was developed using the descriptive-analytical method, based on library sources, and with a view on the interaction between understanding and reality in the Copenhagen School- as the research approach of this paper. Consequently, the hypothesis was offered that the recent developments in Saudi Arabia are indicative of the country’s attempts to play a pivotal role in the United States’ moves to contain Iran’s regional influence. Such a role has especially intensified since the appointment of bin Salman as crown prince, and, given his anti-Iran attitudes, threatens the Islamic Republic’s national security more than before.