chiisme

News Mondays - Clément Guntern

The Middle East has not seen the last of its difficulties. Tensions between states and between different religious or ethnic communities are appearing in many countries. A new frontline has been rekindled in recent years with a confrontation between two regional powers, Saudi Arabia and Iran. These two states, each representing a different religious community - Sunnism and Shiism respectively - are at loggerheads throughout the region. The power of Iran, which has adopted a more aggressive stance in the region, strikes fear into the hearts of its Saudi rival, who sees the Islamic Republic of Iran deploying itself in every conflict.