Aftandilian Publishes Op-Ed on Saudi-Iran Relations
Gregory Aftandilian, Lecturer at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published a recent Op-Ed on the tense relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The June 12, 2016 Op-Ed, entitled “Saudi-Iran Tensions Show No Sign of Abating,” was published in The Arab Weekly.
From the text of the article:
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran continue to simmer as both countries engage in verbal diatribes and proxy wars that show no sign of easing. Part of the problem is sectarian and part is based on long-standing feuds over regional influence and leadership.
Saudi Arabia continues to see Iran as a threat, suggesting that the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1 countries merely afforded Iran with more resources — because of the lifting of sanctions — to engage in proxy wars and subversive activities in the Arab world.
The Saudis say Iran will figure out a way to cheat on the nuclear deal and maintain a clandestine nuclear programme despite international inspections.
The Saudis also claim Iran’s policies are designed to encircle the kingdom. Riyadh views the war in Yemen between the Houthis, who follow the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam, and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi as Iranian meddling in its backyard because of Tehran’s military assistance, albeit limited, to the Houthi rebels.
You can read the entire Op-Ed here.
Aftandilian spent over 21 years in government service, most recently on Capitol Hill where he was foreign policy adviser to Congressman Chris Van Hollen (2007-2008), professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and foreign policy adviser to Senator Paul Sarbanes (2000-2004), and foreign policy fellow to the late Senator Edward Kennedy (1999). Learn more about him here.