CONTEMPORARY EURASIA IX ( 2 )
In 2006 , the international community began joint actions in this regard , imposing bans and sanctions on various spheres of Iran . 78
As the sanctions had severely damaged Iran ’ s economy , it decided to sign the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) in 2015 . According to this agreement , Iran was obliged to decrease its nuclear capabilities , while the international community in exchange would lift some sanctions . 79 Saudi Arabia considered this deal as a “ flawed agreement ,” and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ( MbS ) declared that they would also undoubtedly develop nuclear weapons if Iran continues . 80 Tensed relations continue to the present . Once in an interview with Fox News , Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said that the three greatest threats that Israel faces , are “ Iran , Iran , and Iran .” 81
Overall , Saudi Arabia has been at loggerheads with Iran for forty years . The Sunni Muslim Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran have been vying for regional hegemony from 1979 to the present .
Israel – Iran Relations
Throughout history , Israel and Iran ’ s bilateral relations have depended on their national interests . However , they have been considered inherently hostile countries , although they are not neighboring countries , and consequently do not share common borders , do not ever wage war against each other , and do not have territorial disputes with each other .
During the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ( 1941 – 1979 ), Israel was considered an ally of Iran , as the latter was striving for socioeconomic reforms and seeking to establish close ties with the West , most particularly with the United States . For Israel also , Iran was an ideal ally at that time , taking into account Ben-Gurion ’ s periphery doctrine . Thus , close ties were developed between them . 82
78 Elissa Gootman , “ Security Council Approves Sanctions Against Iran Over Nuclear
Program ,” The New York Times , December 24 , 2006 , https :// www . nytimes . com / 2006 / 12 / 24 / world / 24nations . html . 79 Arms Control Association , Fact Sheets & Briefs , Implementation of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action at a Glance , 2018 , https :// www . armscontrol . org / factsheets / JCPOA-at-a-glance .
80
Yara Bayoumy , “ On eve of Trump-Saudi meeting , Riyadh calls Iran nuclear deal flawed ,” Reuters , March 19 , 2018 , https :// www . reuters . com / article / us-saudi-us-trip / oneve-of-trump-saudi-meeting-riyadh-calls-iran-nuclear-deal-flawed-idUSKBN1GV1YT .
81
“ Benjamin Netanyahu opens up about his history with America ,” Fox News , March 11 , 2018 , https :// www . foxnews . com / transcript / benjamin-netanyahu-opens-up-about-hishistorywith-america . 82 Dilip Hiro , Cold War in the Islamic World : Saudi Arabia , Iran and the Struggle for
Supremacy , ( Oxford University Press , 2018 ). 20