Document Type : Original Article from Result of Thesis
Authors
1
Ph.D. Student of International Relations, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3
Professor at Department of political science, Faculty of law and political science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Over the past two decades, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran have engaged in a competition to extend their influence beyond their borders and establish dominance in the region. Geopolitical ambitions have played a pivotal role, particularly in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011. The general issue of the article is that, despite receiving support from the international community, Saudi Arabia faced a challenge as certain opportunities emerged for Iran to expand its role and influence. Consequently, Riyadh adopted more aggressive approaches in an attempt to halt Tehran and achieve its regional objectives swiftly, resulting in heightened insecurity in the Middle East. Addressing the main question of how geopolitical rivalries contributed to the aggressiveness of Saudi foreign policy against Iran, this article employs a descriptive and analytical approach, utilizing the theory of offensive realism. This theoretical framework explains Saudi Arabia's behavior in its pursuit of favorable geopolitical regions and tests the hypothesis of the article. The primary goal of this research is to demonstrate that the Saudi government has extensively employed violent and chaotic methods to alter the regional order and balance of power in its favor. The research concludes that in order to address the instability in the Middle East and regulate the geopolitical competition between Riyadh and Tehran, a transformation of the tension-inducing geopolitical structure in the region is imperative. Consequently, Saudi Arabia is compelled to reassess its approach and curb its aggressive behavior.
Keywords
Main Subjects
', './data/isjq/coversheet/cover_en.jpg'))