Effective Components on Saudi Arabia's Foreign Policy towards Islamic Republic of Iran from 2000 to 2017

Saudi Arabia, as one of the most important countries in the Persian Gulf region, has long been a focus of attention for international affairs researchers. Saudi Arabia’s important position and its profound influence on the region and the world are rooted in a number of factors including its rich oil and gas resources, the Holy Shrines located in the country, the annual Hajj pilgrimage, and the close-knit ties the country and its royal family keep with the United States. In this context, Saudi Arabia's foreign policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran and understanding the factors influencing it are of great importance to decision makers in Iran. In this study, among the many factors influencing the Saudi foreign policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran, we are looking for the most effective ones between 2000 and 2017. Relations with the United States, oil, the contrast between Saudi Arabia’s monarchy and Iran’s democracy, as well as differences between Wahhabism and revolutionary Islam, and regional rivalry are found to be among the most important factors influencing the Saudi foreign policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.