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

The Shah's vision for Iran as a dominant regional power, however, occasionally ruffled feathers in Riyadh. His ambitious military modernization program and assertive foreign policy, particularly after the British withdrawal from the  Persian Gulf, were viewed with a degree of suspicion by the Saudi monarchy. While publicly acknowledging Iran's importance in maintaining regional security, the Saudis harbored concerns about the potential for Iranian hegemony. These underlying anxieties were further exacerbated by occasional disagreements on issues such as the demarcation of maritime boundaries and the delicate balance of power within the Persian Gulf.