Disputes between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Sunni

Muslim

Shia

Muslim

SYRIA

Alawite (Shia sect)

minority government

AZERBAIJAN

400km

TURKEY

250 miles

Tehran

Med. Sea

5

2

LEBANON

Sunni-Shia-Christian

coalition

IRAN

IRAQ

Shia-led coalition

government

Cairo

Persian Gulf

BAHRAIN

Qatif governorate

Shia-majority

population

3

EGYPT

4

QATAR

Riyadh

7

Gulf of

Oman

UAE

SAUDI ARABIA

1

OMAN

Mecca

SUDAN

Arabian

Sea

6

ERITREA

YEMEN

Iranian-aligned rebels seize

capital, Sanaa, and topple

Sunni government

Sanaa

ETHIOPIA

1987: Clashes in Muslim holy city of Mecca result in deaths of 275 Iranian pilgrims. Protesters in Tehran occupy Saudi embassy. Riyadh cuts diplomatic relations

2011: Riyadh accuses its Shia minority, including figurehead cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr of collaborating with Iran. Al-Nimr is charged with “instigating unrest”

1

4

2012: Saudi Arabia backs rebels fighting to topple Iran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

5

2003: U.S.-led invasion topples Saddam Hussein and empowers Iraq’s Shia majority. Ousted Baath Party officers form alliance with Al Qaeda in Iraq which leads to rise of so called Islamic State (Daesh)

2

2015: Saudi-led coalition launches bombing campaign in Yemen against Shia Houthi rebels

6

2016: Execution of al-Nimr triggers attack on Saudi embassy in Iran. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan, Kuwait and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Iran

7

2011: Saudi Arabia and UAE send 2,000 troops to Bahrain to crush mass pro-democracy protests by Shia majority during Arab Spring

3

Sources: United States Institute of Peace, Pew Research Center

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Disputes between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Predominantly

Sunni Muslim

Predominantly

Shia Muslim

SYRIA

Alawite (Shia sect) minority government

AZERBAIJAN

TURKEY

LEBANON

Sunni-Shia-Christian

coalition

Tehran

5

2

IRAN

Med. Sea

IRAQ

Shia-led coalition

government

Cairo

Persian Gulf

BAHRAIN

Qatif governorate

Shia-majority

population

3

EGYPT

QATAR

4

7

UAE

Riyadh

1

OMAN

Mecca

SAUDI ARABIA

SUDAN

Arabian

Sea

6

ERITREA

Sanaa

400km

ETHIOPIA

250 miles

YEMEN

Iranian-aligned rebels seize capital,

Sanaa, and topple Sunni government

1987: Clashes in Muslim holy city of Mecca result in deaths of 275 Iranian pilgrims. Protesters in Tehran occupy Saudi embassy. Riyadh cuts diplomatic relations

1

2003: U.S.-led invasion topples Saddam Hussein and empowers Iraq’s Shia majority. Ousted Baath Party officers form alliance with Al Qaeda in Iraq which leads to rise of so called Islamic State (Daesh)

2

2011: Saudi Arabia and UAE send 2,000 troops to Bahrain to crush mass pro-democracy protests by Shia majority during Arab Spring

3

2011: Riyadh accuses its Shia minority, including figurehead cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr of collaborating with Iran. Al-Nimr is charged with “instigating unrest”

4

2012: Saudi Arabia backs rebels fighting to topple Iran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

5

2015: Saudi-led coalition launches bombing campaign in Yemen against Shia Houthi rebels

6

2016: Execution of al-Nimr triggers attack on Saudi embassy in Iran. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan, Kuwait and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Iran

7

Sources: United States Institute of Peace, Pew Research Center

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Disputes between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Predominantly Sunni

Muslim government

Predominantly Shia

Muslim government

LEBANON

Sunni-Shia-

Christian coalition

SYRIA

Alawite (Shia sect)

minority government

AZERBAIJAN

TURKEY

5

Tehran

2

Med.

Sea

Shia-led

coalition

IRAQ

IRAN

SAUDI

ARABIA

BAHRAIN

4

3

EGYPT

Riyadh

7

UAE

1

Mecca

SUDAN

Arabian

Sea

400km

6

250 miles

YEMEN

Iranian-aligned rebels seize capital,

Sanaa, and topple Sunni government

1987: Clashes in Muslim holy city of Mecca result in deaths of 275 Iranian pilgrims. Protesters in Tehran occupy Saudi embassy. Riyadh cuts diplomatic relations

1

2003: U.S.-led invasion topples Saddam Hussein and empowers Iraq’s Shia majority. Ousted Baath Party officers form alliance with Al Qaeda in Iraq which leads to rise of so called Islamic State (Daesh)

2

2011: Saudi Arabia and UAE send 2,000 troops to Bahrain to crush mass pro-democracy protests by Shia majority during Arab Spring

3

2011: Riyadh accuses its Shia minority, including figurehead cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr of collaborating with Iran. Al-Nimr is charged with “instigating unrest”

4

2012: Saudi Arabia backs rebels fighting to topple Iran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

5

2015: Saudi-led coalition launches bombing campaign in Yemen against Shia Houthi rebels

6

2016: Execution of al-Nimr triggers attack on Saudi embassy in Iran. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan, Kuwait and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Iran

7

Sources: United States Institute of Peace, Pew Research Center

© GRAPHIC NEWS