Contradictions between Iran and Saudi Arabia reached their peak at the beginning of the year, when Riyadh announced the executions of 47 people for “terrorism and incitement to it.” Most of those executed were Shiites, including preacher Nimr al-Nimr. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr spent four years in prison, but was executed exactly at that moment. Andrei Baklanov, Advisor to the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, watched Saudi Arabian TV closely and reached several conclusions: “The media cited a large number of excerpts from the speeches of al-Nimr. People were speaking, who had participated in this process, a long-term, ongoing process. Of course, the proponents should not use such phrases in their speeches. That is, they are missionaries, they have to preach things that lead to the resolution of contradictions, ways out of the situation, and here there was some kind of a direct call to violence.”
Baklanov thinks that religious leaders should find some kind of a reasonable, balanced approach to political affairs: “Provocative actions are obvious. Such extreme actions as executions have caused a rejection. But, on the other hand, such behavior also causes rejection.”
According to the expert, before providing help in the conflict between Tehran and Riyadh, Russia must be very careful in understanding what kind of truth everyone has and which third countries are interested in exacerbating the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
“The Western press and television carry out the thesis that it is a regional rivalry between the two largest powers for special position in the region. What the hell is a ‘special position in the region’ for each country? Let's start with Iran. Is this is a country which has to fight for a monopoly position? Who else is in the region? There is Israel and almost all the surrounding Sunni states. This is out of the question. The same is true with regard to Saudi Arabia. The country counts on ‘a special position’ among the Islamic countries. They have two shrines of Islam and so forth. But again, in terms of fighting for some sort of hegemony in the region, it is an obvious overexposure,” Baklanov thinks.
He says that now there are two centers of power in the energy market: “One power center is located in the US and the UK, it is such a dark horse, but according to the assessment of the oil minister of Saudi Arabia, one of the greatest experts in the world, he believes that 40-45% of the actual price formation is the work of these people, who are based far away from the centers of oil production in the Middle East. Another center of power is the oil-producing countries, as 40-45% of the price game belongs to them. As a result of the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two major centers, OPEC and all centers, where oil is extracted and that could affect the price level in their own interests, between them there are contradictions, a wedge is driven. The western center strengthens its exposure, and the OPEC center reduces its hypothetical impact. It is profitable for the major forces in the West.”
