Security and bilateral issues between iran and its arab neighbours

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief history of the Iranian-Arab relations. It highlights areas of cooperation and rivalry between the two sides. The chapter discusses the Persian-Arab and Shiite-Sunni rifts and concludes that these ethnic and sectarian rifts do explain a great deal of regional strategic rivalries. These divisions are necessary but not sufficient to understand the complexity of Iranian-Arab relations. The analysis addresses the major bilateral issues between Iran and its Arab neighbours including territorial disputes, oil and gas shared fields, and demographic balances among others. Finally, the chapter examines the main forces that shape the relations between Iran and its Arab neighbours.