moving into 2016 the political tension in the Middle East shows no sign of
in the Middle East shows no sign of
in the Middle East shows no sign of subsiding welcome to watchmojo.com n’t
subsiding welcome to watchmojo.com n’t
subsiding welcome to watchmojo.com n’t we’re counting down ten crucial facts
we’re counting down ten crucial facts
we’re counting down ten crucial facts you should know about the Saudi Arabia
you should know about the Saudi Arabia
you should know about the Saudi Arabia Iran conflict number ten what are the
Iran conflict number ten what are the
Iran conflict number ten what are the origins of Saudi Arabia’s prosperity
origins of Saudi Arabia’s prosperity
origins of Saudi Arabia’s prosperity Saudi Arabia’s oil based economy is one
Saudi Arabia’s oil based economy is one
Saudi Arabia’s oil based economy is one of the most prominent in the world the
of the most prominent in the world the
of the most prominent in the world the country holds at least 18 percent of
country holds at least 18 percent of
country holds at least 18 percent of global petroleum reserves and is the
global petroleum reserves and is the
global petroleum reserves and is the planets largest oil exporter the
planets largest oil exporter the
planets largest oil exporter the petroleum sector accounts for over 90
petroleum sector accounts for over 90
petroleum sector accounts for over 90 percent of Saudi budget revenues the
percent of Saudi budget revenues the
percent of Saudi budget revenues the foundations for these figures were first
foundations for these figures were first
foundations for these figures were first laid in the early 20th century when
laid in the early 20th century when
laid in the early 20th century when Saudi Arabia struck oil for the first
Saudi Arabia struck oil for the first
Saudi Arabia struck oil for the first time in 1938 around the mid 1970s as a
time in 1938 around the mid 1970s as a
time in 1938 around the mid 1970s as a founding member of OPEC and a chief
founding member of OPEC and a chief
founding member of OPEC and a chief benefactor from rising oil prices post
benefactor from rising oil prices post
benefactor from rising oil prices post arab-israeli war Saudi Arabia further
arab-israeli war Saudi Arabia further
arab-israeli war Saudi Arabia further established itself as a leading producer
established itself as a leading producer
established itself as a leading producer and is one of the most prosperous Middle
and is one of the most prosperous Middle
and is one of the most prosperous Middle Eastern countries however that wealth is
Eastern countries however that wealth is
Eastern countries however that wealth is not spread evenly throughout the
not spread evenly throughout the
not spread evenly throughout the country’s population it is instead
country’s population it is instead
country’s population it is instead concentrated within a few super-rich
concentrated within a few super-rich
concentrated within a few super-rich families while a possible 20% of the
families while a possible 20% of the
families while a possible 20% of the population lives well below the poverty
population lives well below the poverty
population lives well below the poverty line number 9 what is at the root of the
line number 9 what is at the root of the
line number 9 what is at the root of the region’s political conflict oil has
region’s political conflict oil has
region’s political conflict oil has historically proven to be the fuel for
historically proven to be the fuel for
historically proven to be the fuel for political problems in the region
political problems in the region
political problems in the region especially between Saudi Arabia and Iran
especially between Saudi Arabia and Iran
especially between Saudi Arabia and Iran another major oil producer the 1979
another major oil producer the 1979
another major oil producer the 1979 Iranian Revolution was in part triggered
Iranian Revolution was in part triggered
Iranian Revolution was in part triggered by the early 70s oil boom with Iran
by the early 70s oil boom with Iran
by the early 70s oil boom with Iran seeking to end US and British influence
seeking to end US and British influence
seeking to end US and British influence on its oil industry the revolution ended
on its oil industry the revolution ended
on its oil industry the revolution ended with governmental overthrow and the
with governmental overthrow and the
with governmental overthrow and the establishment of a new regime under the
establishment of a new regime under the
establishment of a new regime under the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini once
Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini once
Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini once productive links with the USA were
productive links with the USA were
productive links with the USA were severed and for Middle Eastern nations
severed and for Middle Eastern nations
severed and for Middle Eastern nations including Saudi Arabia Iran became an
including Saudi Arabia Iran became an
including Saudi Arabia Iran became an alarming influence number 8 what is the
alarming influence number 8 what is the
alarming influence number 8 what is the religious divide between Saudi Arabia
religious divide between Saudi Arabia
religious divide between Saudi Arabia and Iran
and Iran
and Iran the BBC describes the divide between
the BBC describes the divide between
the BBC describes the divide between Sunnis and Shia as quote the largest and
Sunnis and Shia as quote the largest and
Sunnis and Shia as quote the largest and oldest in the history of Islam and it’s
oldest in the history of Islam and it’s
oldest in the history of Islam and it’s a major component in the current crisis
a major component in the current crisis
a major component in the current crisis the vast majority of the world’s Muslim
the vast majority of the world’s Muslim
the vast majority of the world’s Muslim population is Sunni including between 75
population is Sunni including between 75
population is Sunni including between 75 and 90% of the Saudi populace however
and 90% of the Saudi populace however
and 90% of the Saudi populace however Iran is majority Shia and often cites
Iran is majority Shia and often cites
Iran is majority Shia and often cites its need to protect other Shia
its need to protect other Shia
its need to protect other Shia minorities as reason for various
minorities as reason for various
minorities as reason for various political stances in modern times the
political stances in modern times the
political stances in modern times the sunni-shia divide can be felt across the
sunni-shia divide can be felt across the
sunni-shia divide can be felt across the Middle East and is often considered the
Middle East and is often considered the
Middle East and is often considered the primary spark for conflict however some
primary spark for conflict however some
primary spark for conflict however some commentators believe that the religious
commentators believe that the religious
commentators believe that the religious split operates as a mask deflecting
split operates as a mask deflecting
split operates as a mask deflecting attention from other reasons for war
attention from other reasons for war
attention from other reasons for war number seven is Saudi Arabia in a period
number seven is Saudi Arabia in a period
number seven is Saudi Arabia in a period of change after years of prosperity
of change after years of prosperity
of change after years of prosperity Saudi Arabia now looks to be headed into
Saudi Arabia now looks to be headed into
Saudi Arabia now looks to be headed into a potentially dangerous downturn the
a potentially dangerous downturn the
a potentially dangerous downturn the problem is that the Saudi economy relies
problem is that the Saudi economy relies
problem is that the Saudi economy relies too heavily on its oil industry and oil
too heavily on its oil industry and oil
too heavily on its oil industry and oil is gradually becoming less lucrative
is gradually becoming less lucrative
is gradually becoming less lucrative unlike Dubai for example which is
unlike Dubai for example which is
unlike Dubai for example which is developed into an international center
developed into an international center
developed into an international center for business and commerce Saudi Arabia
for business and commerce Saudi Arabia
for business and commerce Saudi Arabia has little else to fall back on the
has little else to fall back on the
has little else to fall back on the country has placed all of its proverbial
country has placed all of its proverbial
country has placed all of its proverbial eggs into one basket there is an
eggs into one basket there is an
eggs into one basket there is an ever-increasing focus on the renewable
ever-increasing focus on the renewable
ever-increasing focus on the renewable energies market but until comparable
energies market but until comparable
energies market but until comparable success can be achieved
success can be achieved
success can be achieved Saudi residents are likely to see their
Saudi residents are likely to see their
Saudi residents are likely to see their quality of life decrease while they
quality of life decrease while they
quality of life decrease while they begin to be taxed for the first time
begin to be taxed for the first time
begin to be taxed for the first time number six what is the current state of
number six what is the current state of
number six what is the current state of the Middle East with conflicts raging
the Middle East with conflicts raging
the Middle East with conflicts raging and tensions rising the situation in the
and tensions rising the situation in the
and tensions rising the situation in the Middle East seems to get more complex
Middle East seems to get more complex
Middle East seems to get more complex with each week Saudi Arabia and Iran are
with each week Saudi Arabia and Iran are
with each week Saudi Arabia and Iran are perhaps the most influential nations
perhaps the most influential nations
perhaps the most influential nations involved as they’ve come to represent
involved as they’ve come to represent
involved as they’ve come to represent Sunni and Shia Muslims respectively the
Sunni and Shia Muslims respectively the
Sunni and Shia Muslims respectively the Syrian civil war is one of a series of
Syrian civil war is one of a series of
Syrian civil war is one of a series of proxy wars being fought between the two
proxy wars being fought between the two
proxy wars being fought between the two countries with Yemen Iraq and Bahrain
countries with Yemen Iraq and Bahrain
countries with Yemen Iraq and Bahrain all playing host to similar problems in
all playing host to similar problems in
all playing host to similar problems in late 2015
late 2015
late 2015 Iran and Saudi Arabia entered into early
Iran and Saudi Arabia entered into early
Iran and Saudi Arabia entered into early negotiations for peace but events in
negotiations for peace but events in
negotiations for peace but events in January 2016 antagonized
January 2016 antagonized
January 2016 antagonized the situation further and made peace a
the situation further and made peace a
the situation further and made peace a near impossibility
near impossibility
near impossibility number five what sparked the recent
number five what sparked the recent
number five what sparked the recent conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia
conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia
conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 2nd 2016
on January 2nd 2016
on January 2nd 2016 Saudi Arabia announced that it had
Saudi Arabia announced that it had
Saudi Arabia announced that it had executed 47 people at 12 different sites
executed 47 people at 12 different sites
executed 47 people at 12 different sites across the country while many of those
across the country while many of those
across the country while many of those executed were known criminals and
executed were known criminals and
executed were known criminals and terrorists one name inspired outrage in
terrorists one name inspired outrage in
terrorists one name inspired outrage in Iran Nimr al-nimr
Iran Nimr al-nimr
Iran Nimr al-nimr was a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi
was a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi
was a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia a significant leader within the
Arabia a significant leader within the
Arabia a significant leader within the country’s Shia minority he was handed a
country’s Shia minority he was handed a
country’s Shia minority he was handed a death sentence for quote seeking foreign
death sentence for quote seeking foreign
death sentence for quote seeking foreign meddling in Saudi Arabia disobeying its
meddling in Saudi Arabia disobeying its
meddling in Saudi Arabia disobeying its rulers and taking up arms against the
rulers and taking up arms against the
rulers and taking up arms against the security forces his killing was seen as
security forces his killing was seen as
security forces his killing was seen as an attack against the Shia population in
an attack against the Shia population in
an attack against the Shia population in general and against Iran by association
general and against Iran by association
general and against Iran by association the executions have also been labeled as
the executions have also been labeled as
the executions have also been labeled as a distraction made to draw attention
a distraction made to draw attention
a distraction made to draw attention away from the weakening Saudi economy
away from the weakening Saudi economy
away from the weakening Saudi economy the Iranian response which included
the Iranian response which included
the Iranian response which included violent protests against the Saudi
violent protests against the Saudi
violent protests against the Saudi embassy in Tehran has helped further
embassy in Tehran has helped further
embassy in Tehran has helped further divert attention however Saudi Arabian
divert attention however Saudi Arabian
divert attention however Saudi Arabian actions have drawn widespread criticism
actions have drawn widespread criticism
actions have drawn widespread criticism from around the world regardless many
from around the world regardless many
from around the world regardless many people thought that the charges against
people thought that the charges against
people thought that the charges against him were more political number four what
him were more political number four what
him were more political number four what is the future of oil where once Saudi
is the future of oil where once Saudi
is the future of oil where once Saudi Arabia was unquestionably among the
Arabia was unquestionably among the
Arabia was unquestionably among the richest and most powerful middle eastern
richest and most powerful middle eastern
richest and most powerful middle eastern states their position and influence is
states their position and influence is
states their position and influence is now under considerable threat oil is not
now under considerable threat oil is not
now under considerable threat oil is not as valuable as it was mostly because of
as valuable as it was mostly because of
as valuable as it was mostly because of oversupply and a slowdown of economic
oversupply and a slowdown of economic
oversupply and a slowdown of economic growth in China and Europe prices fell
growth in China and Europe prices fell
growth in China and Europe prices fell to below $35 a barrel in January 2016
to below $35 a barrel in January 2016
to below $35 a barrel in January 2016 the lowest in 12 years historically
the lowest in 12 years historically
the lowest in 12 years historically Saudi Arabia has cut production to
Saudi Arabia has cut production to
Saudi Arabia has cut production to balance declining prices but it is
balance declining prices but it is
balance declining prices but it is refusing to do so this time
refusing to do so this time
refusing to do so this time OPEC forecasts that prices will recover
OPEC forecasts that prices will recover
OPEC forecasts that prices will recover to around $70 a barrel by 2020 believing
to around $70 a barrel by 2020 believing
to around $70 a barrel by 2020 believing that the US will suffer more in the
that the US will suffer more in the
that the US will suffer more in the meantime than the Middle East with at
meantime than the Middle East with at
meantime than the Middle East with at least a little economic hardship on the
least a little economic hardship on the
least a little economic hardship on the horizon though the Saudi government may
horizon though the Saudi government may
horizon though the Saudi government may struggle to fund various conflicts in
struggle to fund various conflicts in
struggle to fund various conflicts in which its involved number three what
which its involved number three what
which its involved number three what does
does
does Ismene for Syria in October 2015 the
Ismene for Syria in October 2015 the
Ismene for Syria in October 2015 the first steps towards finding some form of
first steps towards finding some form of
first steps towards finding some form of saudi-iranian resolution in the Syrian
saudi-iranian resolution in the Syrian
saudi-iranian resolution in the Syrian civil war were made with diplomats from
civil war were made with diplomats from
civil war were made with diplomats from both countries meeting in Vienna the war
both countries meeting in Vienna the war
both countries meeting in Vienna the war came about because of choices that
came about because of choices that
came about because of choices that people made and what people have the
people made and what people have the
people made and what people have the power to choose they have the power to
power to choose they have the power to
power to choose they have the power to change while Iran alongside Russia
change while Iran alongside Russia
change while Iran alongside Russia supports the regime of Syrian President
supports the regime of Syrian President
supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-assad Saudi Arabia along with
Bashar al-assad Saudi Arabia along with
Bashar al-assad Saudi Arabia along with the u.s. backs the opposition the Saudi
the u.s. backs the opposition the Saudi
the u.s. backs the opposition the Saudi government is said to be concerned about
government is said to be concerned about
government is said to be concerned about growing Iranian influence in the
growing Iranian influence in the
growing Iranian influence in the conflict both on the battleground and at
conflict both on the battleground and at
conflict both on the battleground and at the negotiation table for Iran nimona
the negotiation table for Iran nimona
the negotiation table for Iran nimona Elna Mona’s execution alongside
Elna Mona’s execution alongside
Elna Mona’s execution alongside convicted al-qaeda and Isis terrorists
convicted al-qaeda and Isis terrorists
convicted al-qaeda and Isis terrorists sends a clear and provocative signal and
sends a clear and provocative signal and
sends a clear and provocative signal and it doesn’t offer much hope for peace in
it doesn’t offer much hope for peace in
it doesn’t offer much hope for peace in the near future number two how will this
the near future number two how will this
the near future number two how will this impact Sunni and Shia tensions the
impact Sunni and Shia tensions the
impact Sunni and Shia tensions the execution of Nimr al-nimr will only have
execution of Nimr al-nimr will only have
execution of Nimr al-nimr will only have entrenched the sunni-shia divide further
entrenched the sunni-shia divide further
entrenched the sunni-shia divide further the war in Syria is an example of how
the war in Syria is an example of how
the war in Syria is an example of how complicated international relations in
complicated international relations in
complicated international relations in the region have become and the focus on
the region have become and the focus on
the region have become and the focus on a quote religious divide is likely to
a quote religious divide is likely to
a quote religious divide is likely to continue for as long as political power
continue for as long as political power
continue for as long as political power struggles and unstable economies persist
struggles and unstable economies persist
struggles and unstable economies persist Saudi Arabia itself is predominantly
Saudi Arabia itself is predominantly
Saudi Arabia itself is predominantly Sunni Muslim so it might be expected
Sunni Muslim so it might be expected
Sunni Muslim so it might be expected that al nemetes execution would cause
that al nemetes execution would cause
that al nemetes execution would cause few problems within the nation itself
few problems within the nation itself
few problems within the nation itself but because it’s been shaped as an
but because it’s been shaped as an
but because it’s been shaped as an attack on religion rather than as a
attack on religion rather than as a
attack on religion rather than as a matter of domestic policy repercussions
matter of domestic policy repercussions
matter of domestic policy repercussions spread across all borders into all
spread across all borders into all
spread across all borders into all regional conflicts and all future
regional conflicts and all future
regional conflicts and all future negotiations number one how will this
negotiations number one how will this
negotiations number one how will this impact relations with the United States
impact relations with the United States
impact relations with the United States the u.s. finds itself in an especially
the u.s. finds itself in an especially
the u.s. finds itself in an especially precarious position while it remains an
precarious position while it remains an
precarious position while it remains an ally of sorts of Saudi Arabia the
ally of sorts of Saudi Arabia the
ally of sorts of Saudi Arabia the relationship between Washington and
relationship between Washington and
relationship between Washington and Riyadh has grown more and more fraught
Riyadh has grown more and more fraught
Riyadh has grown more and more fraught ever since 9/11 al nemetes execution is
ever since 9/11 al nemetes execution is
ever since 9/11 al nemetes execution is another cause of what Hillary Clinton
another cause of what Hillary Clinton
another cause of what Hillary Clinton calls quote serious questions
calls quote serious questions
calls quote serious questions traditionally us-iranian relations have
traditionally us-iranian relations have
traditionally us-iranian relations have been less positive but the link between
been less positive but the link between
been less positive but the link between the two has greatly
the two has greatly
the two has greatly proved during Barack Obama’s time in the
proved during Barack Obama’s time in the
proved during Barack Obama’s time in the White House especially on the back of
White House especially on the back of
White House especially on the back of Iran’s nuclear deal the saudi-iranian
Iran’s nuclear deal the saudi-iranian
Iran’s nuclear deal the saudi-iranian cold war represents a balancing act for
cold war represents a balancing act for
cold war represents a balancing act for America and a real problem for whichever
America and a real problem for whichever
America and a real problem for whichever party wins the 2016 presidential
party wins the 2016 presidential
party wins the 2016 presidential election did these facts get you
election did these facts get you
election did these facts get you thinking to vote for which news story is
thinking to vote for which news story is
thinking to vote for which news story is covered next
covered next
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