Examining Saudi Arabia's geopolitical challenges with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its impact on Southwest Asia Region

Southwest Asia region is one of the most strategic and important areas in the world that has geopolitical challenges and political crises in recent decades. The two countries of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia are the most important actors in its regional level. The two countries, prior of the Islamic Revolution of Iran within the framework of Nixon's two pillars policy, were complementary to each other. They became rivals after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and have been a rivalry relation between them. Therefore, the main question of the research is that what are Saudi Arabia's geopolitical challenges with the Islamic Republic of Iran and what impact these challenges have on the South West Asia region. This research has done descriptive-analytical and documentary method and with geopolitical view and using library data. Its period is related to the post-Islamic revolution of Iran. Historically, the relations between these two regional powers can be divided into three periods, which the most complex taken place in the contemporary era. Research results show that ideological contradictions, conflicting interests and rivalry over the expansion of the spheres of influence of the two countries have caused geopolitical challenges and political crises that have spread to almost the entire region.