Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy war

A regional rivalry in which Iran and Saudi Arabia have backed opposing governments and armed groups across Middle Eastern conflicts, especially since the 2000s.

Proxy war: A conflict in which outside powers support local forces rather than fight each other directly. The rivalry is a regional pattern of indirect competition through local partners.
Yemeni civil war: A conflict among Yemeni political and armed factions that escalated into a regional war in 2015. Saudi-led intervention and Iranian support for the Houthis made Yemen a central arena.
Ruhollah Khomeini: The Iranian cleric who led the 1979 revolution and became the Islamic Republic's first supreme leader. His revolutionary government transformed Iran's regional posture and relations with Saudi Arabia.
Iran–Saudi Arabia relations: The diplomatic, economic, and security relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The broader relationship includes cooperation and restoration of diplomatic ties, not only proxy conflict.
Humanitarian crisis in Yemen: Widespread civilian suffering in Yemen caused by conflict, displacement, hunger, disease, and economic collapse. The Saudi-led intervention and wider war intensified a crisis with severe civilian consequences.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: Iran's military institution responsible for protecting the Islamic Republic and advancing its regional influence. Its Quds Force has organized and supported several Iran-aligned armed groups.
Syrian civil war: A conflict that began in 2011 between Syria's government and an array of opponents. Iran supported Bashar al-Assad's government, while Saudi Arabia backed some opposition groups.
Ali Khamenei: Iran's supreme leader since 1989 and the country's highest political authority. His tenure has overseen Iran's regional strategy and enduring rivalry with Saudi Arabia.
Sunni–Shia relations: Relations between the two largest branches of Islam, shaped by shared beliefs and historical disputes. The rivalry draws on sectarian identities but also reflects state interests and regional power.
2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack: A September 2019 attack that temporarily disrupted Saudi oil processing at Abqaiq and Khurais. It showed how regional confrontation could threaten energy infrastructure without open interstate war.

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