MUST-READS

• Qatar Dispute
  Qatar Standoff Tests China’s Neutrality on Saudi-Iran Feud

  Talks this week on letting Iran join a Beijing-based cooperation bloc highlight the challenge China faces in trying to avoid taking sides in the Middle East’s spiraling sectarian crisis.

• Lebanon
  A Saudi-Iranian tug of war over Lebanon

  “The president (Aoun) knows that he can benefit much more from being friends with the Gulf coun­tries than being completely on the side of Iran and Hezbollah.

• Saudi-Iran
  Commentary: Holy War of Words: Growing Saudi-Iranian Tensions

  At the very least, the tension represents a setback for U.S. policy, since the Obama administration had hoped that such animosity would be reduced at least somewhat by last year's nuclear agreement with Iran.

  • Washington Post - Saudi Arabia and Iran accuse each other of not really being Muslim
  • RFE/RL - Strained History: Iran-Saudi War Of Words Over Hajj
  • Bloomberg - Hajj Pilgrimage Flares Saudi-Iran Feud
• Saudi-Iran
  What Would a Saudi-Iran War Look Like? Don’t look now, but it is already here

  Now Iran seems to have provided its Shiite Houthi allies with C-802 missiles, which have been used in a number of attacks on United Arab Emirates (UAE) warships in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The Houthis are inflicting heavy damage on the Saudi military, destroying scores of U.S.-supplied main battle tanks and other armoured vehicles using Iranian-provided anti-tank guided missiles. Iran’s proxies are seizing terrain in southern Saudi Arabia and lobbing Scud missiles at military bases deep within the kingdom.

  • Al Monitor - Is Saudi Arabia really seeking regime change in Iran?
  • Al Monitor - Is Iran its own worst enemy in Twitter war with Saudi Arabia?
• Saudi-Iran and GCC
  The Saudi-Iranian Rivalry and the Gulf Littoral States

  Each of the six Gulf Arab states perceives the nature and magnitude of the “Iranian threat” differently.

  • Lawfare - Is the Iranian-Saudi "Cold War" Heating Up? How to Reduce the Temperature
• Energy Policy
  In the Saudi-Iran Oil Clash, Riyadh Gains an Edge

  Saudi Arabia is poised to boost its share of OPEC oil production in the coming months, as Iran's rapid recovery runs out of steam and the kingdom raises output as summer temperatures soar.

• Hajj 2016
  Saudi-Iranian Haj accord yet to be signed

  A much-anticipated agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran regarding the pilgrimage arrangements for Iranian pilgrims was not signed on Thursday as planned after the Iranian delegation failed to show up.

• Saudi-Iran split muddies OPEC long-term strategy: Sources

  OPEC has yet to agree on a long-term strategy as Saudi Arabia objects to a proposal from arch-rival Iran that the exporter group aim for tighter control of the oil market, sources said, pointing to deep divisions over the way forward. The OPEC board of governors met on Monday in Vienna to discuss the latest draft of its LTS. While they made progress on some issues, OPEC kingpin Riyadh disagreed with Tehran's proposal to include "effective production management" as a challenge for the group, two OPEC sources said. "Iran and Saudi did not agree," said one source, who declined to be identified. Iran, according to an earlier draft of the LTS seen by Reuters in November, had proposed that the first of 10 challenges OPEC listed for itself—"sustaining oil market stability"—be tweaked to refer to managing supply. "The first challenge could be expressed in a more clear way as follows: 'Sustainability of oil prices at optimal levels as well as maintaining effective production management, in light of dynamic market conditions,"' Iran wrote on the earlier draft. At stake, fundamentally, is whether the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries puts its traditional role of fixing supply to prop up prices—a position favored by Iran and other members such as Algeria—at the top of its agenda. ‹ Doha summit fails to agree on output freeze Saudi Arabia isn’t the only country looking to kick its crude addiction Iran v Saudi Arabia's showdown in Doha › Or, in response to rising supply outside the group, OPEC steps back from attempting to manage the market - a view in line with the thinking of Saudi Arabia, which led a shift in OPEC strategy in November 2014 when the group refused to cut output. The debate matters for the oil industry and wider economy as oil prices, which began a slide from over $100 a barrel in June 2014 due to oversupply, deepened their collapse in response to OPEC's decision not to cut. Crude hit a 12-year low in January this year and is now trading around $45. That policy shift continues to divide the group, with members disagreeing about the need to support a fair oil price and boost revenues. The earlier LTS draft seen by Reuters carried annotations from Iran and Algeria for measures to support prices such as a price target or floor and a return to OPEC's quota system. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf OPEC allies oppose a return to quotas, which were dropped in 2011. The long-term report is prepared by OPEC's research team in Vienna and traditionally cautions that it does not articulate the final position of OPEC or any member country on any proposed conclusions it contains. OPEC officials will meet again this year in an attempt to reach agreement on the long-term strategy, sources said. Two OPEC sources described the areas of disagreement as relatively small.

• Saudi-Lebanon
  Saudi-Iranian Tensions at Play In Lebanon

  “It is not a matter of money," he said. "The Saudi decision is about trust, which is more important than money.”

  • The National - Lebanon denies reports Saudi Arabia has halted bank transfers to the country
• Hamas
  Why Hamas hopes to keep a low profile in Saudi-Iranian tensions

  Hamas’ relationship with Saudi Arabia witnessed a major breakthrough following Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal’s visit to Saudi Arabia in July. Meanwhile, Hamas and Iran are continuing political talks in Beirut to improve their relations.

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