Live: Iran-Israel-US Tensions, Middle East Sunni-Shia Conflict History & Regional Dynamics
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Iran's Middle East Allies & Enemies: Oil, Power, 1400-Year Conflict
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News18•05-03-2026, 17:31
Iran's Middle East Allies & Enemies: Oil, Power, 1400-Year Conflict
•Middle East alliances are complex, driven by a 1400-year-old Sunni-Shia conflict, oil, money, and power, with warnings of potential WWIII.
•Iran's allies include Turkey (due to oil/gas needs, anti-Israel stance), Lebanon (Hezbollah proxy), Iraq (Shia majority, electricity dependence), and Yemen's Houthi rebels.
•Key enemies are Saudi Arabia (Prince Mohammed bin Salman), Syria (Sunni extremists), Azerbaijan (pro-Israel despite Shia majority), UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain (seeking US protection/bases).
•Countries like Egypt, Oman, and Pakistan adopt a middle path, balancing regional influence, economic needs, and internal demographics.
•The core tension stems from the Sunni-Shia divide, with Sunnis (80% of Muslims) dominant in Saudi Arabia and most Arab nations, while Shias are majority in Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan.