Iranian–Saudi Rivalry Since 1979: In the Words of Kings and Clerics

Description

The world’s largest Wahhabi state, Saudi Arabia, and the world’s largest Shia state, Iran, face each other across the Persian Gulf. But the relationship between them is one of the most fraught in the world. This is usually attributed to sectarian differences, even by the states’ own elites. However, this book shows that in their official speeches, newspaper editorials and Friday sermons, these elites use sectarian and nationalist references and tropes to denigrate each other and promote themselves in the eyes of their respective constituencies in the region. Talal Mohammad, who is fluent in both Arabic and Persian, examines Saudi–Iranian rivalry using discourse analysis of these religious, political and journalistic sources. Tracing what has been produced since 1979 in parallel, he argues for a consistent pattern of mutual misrepresentation, whereby each frames its counterpart as the ‘Other’ to which a specific political agenda can be justified and advanced. The book covers key events including the Iranian Revolution, the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Taliban war, the fall of Saddam, the Arab Spring, the rise of Mohammed bin Salman, and the war on ISIS. While until now Saudi-Iranian rivalry has been understood in primarily sectarian or geopolitical terms, the author argues here that the discursive othering serves as a propagandist function that supports more fundamental political and geopolitical considerations. Cover Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Epigraph Deication CONTENTS PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NOTE ON TRANSLATION AND TRANSLITERATION ABBREVIATIONS Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION: RIVALRY, OTHERING, AND THE NECESSARY ENEMY Anthology of the Relevant Literature on Saudi–Iranian Relations Theoretical Underpinnings Part 1 Chapter 2 REVOLUTION, WAR, AND THE FORMATION OF IRANIAN DISCOURSES OF SELF AND OTHER Introduction Defining the Self and the Other in the Islamic Republic of Iran The Definition of Iran’s Other Rivalry Begins: Constructing Saudi Arabia as Iran’s Other Conclusion Chapter 3 SIEGE, PROTESTS, AND THE HAJJ: SAUDI ARABIA FROM KHALID TO FAHD Introduction Khalid and Fahd The Siege of Mecca The Iranian Revolution and Saudi Identity Shi’i Instability: The Eastern Province Consolidating Saudi Arabia’s Islamic and Arab Credentials Propaganda, the US, and Zionism: Keeping Up Appearances Defining Saudi Arabia’s Other Contesting Legitimacy and Leadership: Iran and Saudi Arabia and the Hajj Chaos in Mecca: the 1987 Hajj and the Severing of Ties Conclusion Part 2 Chapter 4 CALM AFTER THE STORM: SAUDI- IRANIAN DÉTENTE Introduction: Iran and Saudi Arabia After the First Gulf War Iranian Representations Conclusion Chapter 5 BUILDING BRIDGES: FROM DÉTENTE TO RAPPROCHEMENT Introduction The 1997 OIC Summit and the Iranian Self’s ‘Split Personality’ Afghanistan, the Taliban, and the ‘Ominous Triangle’ Saudi Representations Iranian–Saudi Othering Conclusion Chapter 6 THE KHATAMI PRESIDENCY AND THE OIC: FROM CONFIDENCE BUILDING TO ISLAMIC UNITY AND COOPERATION Introduction Khatami’s Election and a Shift from Détente to Rapprochement Iranian–Saudi Relations, Islamic Unity, and the OIC Tehran Summit Conclusion Part 3 Chapter 7 AHMADINEJAD’S VICTORY AND ABDULLAH’S THRONE: THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR RAPPROCHEMENT Introduction Ahmadinejad’s Victory, Islamic Leadership, and Cooperation Israel and the Holocaust: Iranian and Saudi Implicit Representations of Each Other The Askari Shrine Bombings, Sectarian Violence, and Iranian–Saudi Othering in 2006 Conclusion Chapter 8 THE IMPACT OF THE HEZBOLLAH-ISRAEL WAR ON SAUDI-IRANIAN REPRESENTATIONS Introduction The Background to the 34-Day Hezbollah–Israel War Themes and Tropes Regarding the War Conclusion Chapter 9 THE GZA W AR’S IMPACT ON IRANIAN AND SAUDI DISCOURSES Introduction Iranian Discourses: Zionist–US Subservience and Arab Silence Silence of the Sunni Clergy Islamic Narratives and Tropes of Silence and Subservience to Zionism The Karbala Narrative: Tropes of Martyrdom and Resistance Saudi Discourses: Iranian Sedition, Hegemony, and Realpolitik Conclusion Part 4 Chapter 10 THE ARAB WORLD RISES: ARAB SPRING OR ISLAMIC AWAKENING? Introduction An Early Spring in Saudi Arabia and Iran Protests in the Middle East: The Arab Spring Trouble Comes Home: Days of Rage in the GCC Conclusion Chapter 11 THE ARAB SPRING AND SYRIA AS THE HEART OF THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE Introduction Syria: A View from Iran Saudi Narratives and Tropes on Syria Conclusion Chapter 12 IRAN GOES NUCLEAR AND THE FIGHT TO SAVE ISLAM Introduction A Victory for the Moderates: An Attempt to Rebrand Iran Cautious Saudi Optimism ‘Heroic Flexibility’: A Thaw in US–Iran Relations Fear of a Grand Bargain Fortifying the Relationship: Washington Appeases Riyadh The Interim Nuclear Deal: The Joint Plan of Action The Rise of ISIS: Rivalry and Mutual Threat Conclusion Part 5 Chapter 13 YEMEN: A NEW SAUDI MONARCH AND A PROXY WAR Introduction Death of a Monarch: The End of Rapprochement? War in Yemen: Operation Decisive Storm The Next Phase: Operation Restoring Hope Conclusion Chapter 14 A COLD WAR TURNS HOT: THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY AND MOHAMMAD BIN SALMAN Introduction The Death of Rafsanjani: the Demise of Rapprochement? Candidate Trump, Saudi Arabia, and Islam President Trump, Saudi Arabia, and the Common Iranian Other Iran Responds to Trump Khamenei Responds to Trump and Saudi Arabia Inching towards the Throne: Mohammad bin Salman Rises Once More MBS Goes on the Offensive: MBS Versus ‘Hitler’ Images of Saudi Hyper-Nationalism Hegemony, Intervention, and an ‘Act of War’ The Middle East’s Hitler and Extremism Conclusion Chapter 15 MAXIMUM PRESSURE: TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, TANKER WARS, AND ASSASSINATIONS Introduction Hitler vs. Hitler: Calls for ‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran Tit-for-Tat: Tanker Wars 2.0 US–Iranian Tensions and Th eir Implications for the Middle East The Aramco Attacks: Saudi Arabia’s ‘Black September’ ‘Severe Revenge’: Iran’s 9/11 Conclusion Chapter 16 CONCLUSION The Function and Nature of Othering The Discursive Practice of Othering: Themes and Repertoires The Production of Iranian–Saudi Discourses: Actors and Audiences Concluding Remarks: How Othering Defines the Self As a State Propaganda Tool EPILOGUE GLOSSARY REFERENCES IRANIAN SAUDI RIVALRY SINCE 1979