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
IRAN
IRAQ
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