About the Book: Cold War in the Islamic World
For four decades Saudi Arabia and Iran have vied for influence in the Muslim
world. At the heart of this ongoing Cold War between Riyadh and Tehran lie the
Sunni-Shia divide, and the two countries intertwined histories. Saudis see this
as a conflict between Sunnis and Shia; Irans ruling clerics view it as one
between their own Islamic Republic and an illegitimate monarchy. This
foundational schism has played out in a geopolitical competition for dominance
in the region: Iran has expanded its influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, while
Saudi Arabias hyperactive crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman,