Iran has built itself up as the Shia superpower in the region; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its extraordinary oil wealth, is its most powerful Sunni rival. Whenever President Donald Trump, his administration and his family are faced with awkward questions about their closeness to Saudi Arabia, they have a tendency to deflect attention to the sins of Iran. Yet as the world plays one nation against the other, Saudi Arabia and Iran have one thing in common. Bin Salman's message to feminists in Saudi Arabia is subtly different from that currently sent by the Iranian regime. The Iran versus Saudi Arabia divide will continue to be the ping-pong axis of Middle Eastern affairs for years.

Source: CNN March 19, 2019 00:56 UTC