Abstract
Invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi army had significant impacts on regional and international spheres. The invasion affected relations of the regional countries in particular Iran-Saudi relationship as the most influential countries in the Persian Gulf region. The present article, first, takes into consideration Iran and Saudi Arabia relations in first decade after the Islamic revolution of Iran which finally gave rise to cutting off diplomatic relations in 1988 due to some severe tensions between the two sides. Then, the article examines Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and occupying of Kuwait city, the capital, in August 1990 which led to some significant regional developments. The study also analyzes Iran’s neutrality stance in this case as well as in Second Gulf War which was reaction of international community pertaining to the occupation. Finally, the article concludes that how Iranian rational and pragmatic decision during the crisis resulted in changing of viewpoints of regional countries in particular Saudi Arabia which eventually led to renewing of diplomatic ties of Tehran-Riyadh in March 1991 after three years frigidity.
Highlights
Overthrowing of Pahlavi regime in 1979 and emergence of Iran’s Islamic revolution caused serious problems for neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain due to encompassing some Shiites minorities within their territories
Iran insisted to hold the political demonstration like previous years while Saudi Arabia was afraid of Iranian pilgrims
Despite of Iran-Saudi frictional relations in first decade of Iran’s revolution because of some matters such as political demonstration in hajj ceremony or Saudi fear of ideological slogans like exporting the Islamic revolution which led to cutting off diplomatic relations between the two sides; Saddam’s occupation of Kuwait and subsequently Second Gulf War which headed by United States, changed Iran-Saudi hostile perception from one another and paved the way for restoring of mutual diplomatic relations after three years in March 1991
Summary
Overthrowing of Pahlavi regime in 1979 and emergence of Iran’s Islamic revolution caused serious problems for neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain due to encompassing some Shiites minorities within their territories. Divest the control of the shrines from [them]” (Walt, 1996, p.245) while the clashes were due to Iran’s endeavors to export its revolution during the hajj and political demonstration of Iranian pilgrims which threatened Saudi legitimacy and stability This is why; the annual hajj was the main problem between the two sides not Saudi support of Baghdad during Iran-Iraq war in 1980s (Metz, 2004). Iran insisted to hold the political demonstration like previous years while Saudi Arabia was afraid of Iranian pilgrims As it is evident, Iran’s revolutionary policy or so-called “anti-quo policy” under Iran-Iraq war atmosphere gave rise to intensive response of Saudi Kingdom. This period, 1980s, was the most tensional term in mutual relations of the two countries since establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1929
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