The Impact of Geopolitical Interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia on Regional Challenges in Southwest Asia

Competition among countries in a region is a widespread phenomenon. However, the actions of the rival countries depend on the nature and number of matters of dispute and their approaches to resolving these disputes. Two countries that are struggling for hegemony in a region could not possibly have a peaceful relationship. The relationship between these two countries will be in a state of perpetual competition, marked by seeking allies and rebel groups from other countries in the region in order to confront one another. Today, Iran and Saudi Arabia's mutual competition in southwest Asia has shaped tensions. This rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has spread to other countries in the region as well. This research is a descriptive and analytical study in order to analyze the geopolitical interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Southwest Asia. The data is collected through library research and documents. The results of this study show that the actions of the two countries of Iran and Saudi Arabia in southwest Asia are influenced by various factors such as historical and cultural reasons, ideological competition, conflicting political structure, religious rivalry, ethnic and religious groups with mutual interests in the rival country and political interventions of world powers. These factors play an important role in creation and continuation of competition and conflict between the two countries. And due to serious dependence of major parts of the world on natural resources of the two countries, the escalation of the crisis between Iran and Saudi Arabia will create a global challenge