Saudi FM invites Iranian counterpart to Riyadh for negotiations:
Saudi Arabia has invited Iran's foreign minister to visit, Riyadh's counterpart said on Tuesday, hinting at a cautious thaw between the Gulf's two biggest, most bitter rivals since Tehran reached an interim nuclear deal with world powers. Ref. Source 8
Iran Sends Ships Toward Blockaded Yemen Port, Raising Fears Of Escalating Conflict With Saudi Arabia:
Iran is sending a small armada of naval vessels toward Yemen, sparking concern among U.S. Defense officials that a naval conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia could escalate the Yemen conflict from a proxy war into a full-scale international conflict, according to media reports. Ref. Source 7
Several demonstrators have been arrested at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran, police say, following the Saudi execution of a dissident Shiite cleric.
Video showed smoke billowing out of the Saudi embassy early Sunday, and police report damage at the back of the building.
Cleric Nimr al-Nimr was among 47 people executed by Saudi Arabia on Saturday on terror charges. He had repeatedly spoken out against the government and the Saudi royal family. Ref. CNN
Saudi Arabia severs ties with Iran
Saudi Arabia announced Sunday that it was severing ties with Iran, hours after Iranian protesters set fires in the Saudi embassy compound in Tehran. Tensions between the Middle East powers have intensified since the Saudis announced the execution Saturday of Sheik Nimr al-Nimr, a beloved cleric among Shiite Muslims known as a voice for free Saudi elections during the Arab Spring protests. Ref. USAToday
Deadly rhetoric: Saudi Arabia opens war of words with Iran. For years the Saudis have waged proxy battles against Iran, with little success. Now, despite this history of losses, Riyadh appears to be mobilizing for an ill-conceived confrontation with the Islamic Republic. Ref. Source 9l.
Remember the source. This is a Russian news agency funded by the Russian Government. Of course it's going to say Saudi Arabia hasn't been successful in its efforts to stymie Iran. In fact, they have been very successful and who knows how much more influence Iran would have without Saudi Arabia actively trying to limit their influence.
Iran terrifies Saudi Arabia, and for good cause. They are a populous nation, they have an advanced nuclear program, and they have regional ambitions to be the dominant power. Furthermore, they would like nothing more than to convrty the whole region to Shia. All of those are diametrically opposed to Saudi Arabia's desires.