Demonstrators attend a rally in support of Iran's anti-government protests, in Tel Aviv, Israel on January 16, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP
Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, once compared Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Hitler, and warned that if Tehran acquired a nuclear bomb, his kingdom would do the same.For years, rivalry between Saudi Arabia, a Sunni monarchy, and Iran, a Shia theocracy, had been a defining feature of West Asian geopolitics. From Lebanon and Syria to Iraq and Yemen, the two backed opposing sides, with Iran supporting Shia militias and Saudi Arabia Sunni factions. Published - January 16, 2026 05:50 pm IST
