Pre-Revolutionary Iran-Saudi Arabia Relations: A Complex Tapestry of Cooperation and Underlying Tensions

During much of the pre-revolutionary era, a pragmatic alignment of interests often characterized the interactions between the Shah's Iran and Saudi Arabia. Both nations, possessing vast oil reserves, played pivotal roles within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, frequently coordinating their policies on production and pricing to exert influence on the global energy market. This economic interdependence fostered a degree of collaboration at the highest levels, with leaders exchanging visits and engaging in diplomatic dialogue aimed at maintaining stability within the Persian Gulf region. The shared concern over external threats, particularly the expansion of Soviet influence in the Middle East, also provided a common ground for strategic cooperation, often under the umbrella of American foreign policy.