Iran considers itself the heartland of Shī‘a Islam. Saudi Arabia, whilst home to the site most sacred to all branches of the faith, is almost exclusively Sunni. The two countries have long been at loggerheads and relations between the two have, since the Islamic revolution in Iran, been strained at the best of times and non-existent at the worst of times.
This conflict between the two dominant Muslim nations has generally suited the West just fine. This is especially true of the United States so they must not be well pleased by the news that the two countries are making friendly noises and cooperating in an attempt to alleviate the deteriorating situation in the Lebanon. Should this combination prove effective there might it not also be effective in resolving issues elsewhere in the Middle East (Palestine? Iraq?) and would it be allowed to be effective by the US and Israel?
This conflict between the two dominant Muslim nations has generally suited the West just fine. This is especially true of the United States so they must not be well pleased by the news that the two countries are making friendly noises and cooperating in an attempt to alleviate the deteriorating situation in the Lebanon. Should this combination prove effective there might it not also be effective in resolving issues elsewhere in the Middle East (Palestine? Iraq?) and would it be allowed to be effective by the US and Israel?
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