There is a cold war in the Middle East. The Middle East is one of the most complex regions in the world. Currently, there are four failing states and three wars, with major powers increasingly taking opposite sides. Countless armed militias and terrorist groups are spreading violence across borders. The region has seen conflict after conflict going back well into the 20th century. But among all the uprisings, civil wars and insurgencies, two countries always seem to be involved: Saudi Arabia and Iran. They're bitter rivals, and their feud is the key to understanding conflicts in the Middle East. The Saudis and Iranians have never actually declared war on each other. Instead, they fight indirectly by supporting opposing sides in other countries and inciting conflicts. This is known as proxy warfare, and it's had a devastating effect on the region. Countries, especially poor ones, can't function if there are larger countries pulling strings within their borders. Both the Saudis and the Iranians see these civil wars as both tremendous threats and also potentially enormous opportunities. The Saudi-Iranian rivalry has become a fight over influence, and the whole region is a battlefield. It's why the rivalry is being called a Cold War. The most famous Cold War was fought for 40 years between the United States and Soviet Union. Looking forward to the day when their flag would fly over the entire world. They never declared war on each other, but clashed in proxy wars around the world. Each side supported dictators, rebel groups, and intervened in civil wars to contain the other. Like the US and Soviet Union, Saudi Arabia and Iran are two powerful rivals. But instead of fighting for world dominance, they're fighting over control of the Middle East. In order to understand the Saudi-Iranian rivalry, let's go back to the origins of each country. In the early 1900s, the Arabian Peninsula was a patchwork of tribes under the control of the Ottoman Empire. After World War I, the empire collapsed, leaving these tribes to fight each other over power. One tribe from the interior, the al Saud, eventually conquered most of the peninsula. In 1932, they were recognized as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Six years later, massive oil reserves were discovered in Saudi Arabia, and in an instant, the Saudi monarchy was rich. That oil money built roads and cities all around the desert country, and it helped forge an alliance with the US. On the eastern side of the Persian Gulf, another country was emerging, but having a much harder time. Iran also had massive oil reserves and an even bigger Muslim population. But constant foreign intervention was creating chaos. Since the 18th century, Iran had been invaded by the Russians and the British twice. In 1953, the US secretly staged a coup, removing the popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. In his place, they propped up a monarch, Reza Shah, who was aggressively reforming Iran into a secular, Westernized country. But he harbored corruption and terrorized the population with his secret police, the SAVAK. By the 1970s, both Saudi Arabia and Iran had oil-based economies and had governments heavily backed by the US. But the feelings among each population were very different. Ultimately, at the end of the day, the Shah of Iran, powerful as he was, simply didn't have the same control over his people, or ultimately the same legitimacy and affection that the Saudi people felt toward their monarchy at that point in time. That's because Iran's Muslims felt stifled by the Shah's reformations, and by the end of the decade, they finally fought back. Iran's Islamic Revolution overthrew a powerful regime that boasted military might. It's really in 1979 when Ayatollah Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution overthrow the Shah, that the real tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia began. Ayatollah Khomeini was a Muslim clergyman who preached against Western-backed secular monarchies. He advocated for a government that was popular, Islamic, and led by the clergy. And in 1979, he led a revolution to establish just that. It was a massive international event that prompted reactions around the world, especially in Saudi Arabia. The Iranian Revolution terrified the government of Saudi Arabia. They were fearful that Ayatollah Khomeini would inspire their populations to rise up against them, exactly the way that he had caused the Iranian population to rise up against the Shah. And there is a religious threat, too. Up until now, the Saudis had claimed to be the leaders of the Muslim world, largely because Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, are in Saudi Arabia. But Khomeini claimed his popular revolution made Iran the legitimate Muslim state. And there is another divide. Saudi Arabia's population is mostly Sunni, the majority sect of Islam, while Khomeini and Iran are mostly Shia. Westerners always make a mistake in drawing an analogy between the Sunni-Shia split and the Protestant-Catholic split within Christianity. The Sunni-Shia split was never as violent. That in much of the Islamic world, when Sunnis and Shia were living in close proximity, they got along famously well. So, while the Sunni-Shia split was not a reason for the rivalry, it was an important division. After the revolution, the Saudis' fears came to life when Iran began exporting its revolution. This CIA report from 1980 details how the Iranians started helping groups, mostly Shia, trying to overthrow governments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. And they prompted the Saudis to redouble their efforts to fight against Iran. They bolstered their alliance with the US and formed the GCC, an alliance with other Gulf monarchies. The stage was set for conflict. On September the 22nd, Iraqi planes attacked Merabad Airport outside Tehran. Iraq was gambling on a short, sharp campaign. The rise of Iran as a regional power threatened other neighboring countries as well. In September 1980, Iraq, under the rule of dictator Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran. He was hoping to stop the Iranian Revolution, gain power, and annex some of Iran's oil reserves. But they didn't get far. The war bogged down into a stalemate, complete with trench warfare, chemical weapons, and heavy civilian casualties. When Iran started winning, the Saudis panicked and came to Iraq's rescue. They provided money, weapons, and logistical help. And so it becomes critical to the Saudis that they build up Iraq and build it up into a wall that can hold back the Iranian torrent that they have unleashed. The Saudi help allowed Iraq to fight until 1988. By then, nearly a million people had died. The Iranians largely blamed the Saudis for the war, and the feud escalated. Fast forward 15 years, and Iraq again became the scene of a proxy war. In 2003, the US invaded Iraq and overthrew Saddam Hussein. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Iran wanted this to happen, since Iraq had been acting as a buffer between them. But problems arose when the US struggled to replace Saddam. The United States has no idea what it's doing in Iraq after 2003, and it makes one mistake after another that creates a security vacuum and a failed state and drives Iraq into all-out civil war. Without a government, armed militias took control of Iraq, splintering the population. Sunni and Shia militias suddenly sprang up all over the country. Many were radical Islamist groups who saw an opportunity to gain power amidst the chaos. These militias were ready-made proxies for Saudi Arabia and Iran, and they both seized the opportunity to try and gain power. The Saudis started sending money and weapons to the Sunni militias, and Iran to the Shia. Iraq was suddenly a proxy war with Saudi Arabia and Iran supporting opposing sides. That trend continued into the Arab Spring, a series of anti-monarchy, pro-democracy protests that swept through the Middle East in 2011. And this had very different consequences for Saudi Arabia and Iran. That is terrifying to the Saudis, who are the ultimate status quo power. They want the region stable, and they don't want anybody rising up and overthrowing a sclerotic autocratic government for fear that it might inspire their own people to do the same. The Iranians are the ultimate anti-status quo power. They have been trying for decades to overturn the regional order. Each country threw their weight behind different groups all over the Middle East. Just like in Iraq, the Saudis began supporting Sunni groups and governments, while Iran helped Shia groups rise up against them. For example, in Tunisia, the Saudis backed a dictator, while the Iranians stoked protests. In Bahrain, Iran supported Shia leaders seeking to overthrow the government. Saudi Arabia, in turn, sent troops to help quash the unrest. Both got involved in Libya, Lebanon, and Morocco as well. As Saudi Arabia and Iran put more and more pressure on these countries, they began to collapse. Now the feud has gone a step further, with both countries deploying their own militaries. In Yemen, the Saudi military is on the ground helping the central government. They are fighting the rebels called the Houthis, who are an Iranian proxy group. And the reverse is happening in Syria. The Iranian military is fighting side-by-side with militias, some of them extremist groups like Hezbollah, in support of dictator Bashar al-Assad. They are fighting rebel Sunni groups who are Saudi proxies. The more civil wars that broke out in the Middle East, the more Saudi Arabia and Iran became involved. Neither the government of Saudi Arabia nor the government of Iran are looking for a fight. But the problem is that these civil wars create circumstances that no one could have predicted. Both the Iranians and the Saudis feel their vital national interests are threatened, are in jeopardy, because of different things going on in these civil wars, things that they blame each other for. Now the Cold War is drawing in other countries. The Saudi government is threatening Qatar, a tiny Gulf state that was developing ties with Iran. Meanwhile, in Syria and Iraq, the terrorist group ISIS is nearing defeat, and both the Saudis and Iranians are angling to take control of that territory. It's a Cold War that's becoming incredibly unpredictable. As the Middle East continues to destabilize, it's hard to say how far these countries will go.
A satellite map of the Middle East is shown. Text appears on screen, slowly revealing the phrase 'There is a Cold War in the Middle East'. The map is dark blue for water and light gray for land, with country borders faintly outlined.
"There is a cold war in the Middle East."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "There is a"
The map animates, highlighting Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in light orange. Red lines connect these countries to the text '4 failing states' and '3 wars'. Flags of various countries (Saudi Arabia, UK, USA, Turkey, Russia, Iran) appear near the highlighted regions, indicating their involvement.
"The Middle East is one of the most complex regions in the world. Currently, there are four failing states and three wars, with major powers increasingly taking opposite sides."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Libya", "Syria", "Iraq", "Yemen", "4 failing states", "3 wars", "Mapbox"
The map shows glowing orange and red circles indicating the locations of ISIS, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda, with lines connecting them to their respective names. These circles pulse and expand slightly.
"Countless armed militias and terrorist groups are spreading violence across borders."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "ISIS", "Hezbollah", "al-Qaeda", "Mapbox"
A rapid montage of historical conflict footage plays. This includes soldiers in gas masks, a blindfolded man with chained hands, soldiers firing rifles, a tank moving, people cheering around a statue, and armed men in traditional Middle Eastern attire.
"The region has seen conflict after conflict going back well into the 20th century."
Setting: various Middle Eastern locations — harsh, natural
People (3):
• standing, marching, wearing military fatigues and military fatigues, not visible hair — obscured by gas masks
• standing, arms raised, wearing light-colored shirt and light-colored pants, dark, short hair — blindfolded
• standing, marching, protesting, wearing traditional robes and traditional robes, various hair — various expressions
Text: "Vox"
The screen splits into two, showing a Saudi Arabian flag waving on the left and an Iranian flag being carried by a crowd on the right. Both flags are green, white, and red, with distinct national emblems.
"But among all the uprisings, civil wars and insurgencies, two countries always seem to be involved: Saudi Arabia and Iran."
Setting: outdoor — bright, natural
People (1):
• not visible, wearing not visible and not visible, not visible hair — not visible
Text: "Vox", "Saudi Arabia", "Iran"
The screen transitions to a gray background with outlines of Saudi Arabia (black) and Iran (white). Text overlays emphasize the 'Conflict in the Middle East'.
"They're bitter rivals, and their feud is the key to understanding conflicts in the Middle East."
Setting: stylized map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "CONFLICT", "in the", "Middle East"
The outlines of Saudi Arabia (black) and Iran (white) are shown on a gray background, with their full names appearing as text overlays.
"The Saudis and Iranians have never actually declared war on each other."
Setting: stylized map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Islamic Republic of Iran", "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"
The map expands to include Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, highlighted in different colors (dark red, orange, yellow). Lines connect Saudi Arabia and Iran to these countries, forming a triangular relationship. The text 'war in Iraq', 'Syrian civil war', and 'Yemeni Civil War' appear next to the respective countries.
"Instead, they fight indirectly by supporting opposing sides in other countries and inciting conflicts. This is known as proxy warfare."
Setting: stylized Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", "Islamic Republic of Iran", "war in Iraq", "Syrian civil war", "Yemeni Civil War"
The word 'PROXY' appears in large white letters across the screen, partially obscuring the map. The word 'warfare' appears below it in smaller white letters.
"This is known as proxy warfare."
Setting: stylized Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "PROXY", "warfare"
The map reappears clearly, showing Saudi Arabia (black), Iran (white), Iraq (dark red), Syria (orange), and Yemen (yellow) connected by lines. The names of the countries are clearly visible.
"And it's had a devastating effect on the region. Countries, especially poor ones, can't function if there are larger countries pulling strings within their borders."
Setting: stylized Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", "Islamic Republic of Iran", "Iraq", "Syria", "Yemen"
Small video clips of military action (missile launch, tank firing, artillery) appear over the outlines of Iraq, Syria, and Yemen respectively, illustrating the proxy conflicts.
"Countries, especially poor ones, can't function if there are larger countries pulling strings within their borders."
Setting: stylized Middle East map with video inserts — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", "Islamic Republic of Iran", "Iraq", "Syria", "Yemen"
A man with short, curly brown hair and glasses, wearing a green polo shirt, speaks directly to the camera. His expression is serious and thoughtful, with occasional hand gestures to emphasize points.
"Both the Saudis and the Iranians see these civil wars as both tremendous threats and also potentially enormous opportunities."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox", "Kenneth Pollack", "Former Persian Gulf military analyst, CIA"
The map of the Middle East is shown with Saudi Arabia highlighted in green and Iran in red. Lines extend from these two countries to other nations like Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya, which are highlighted in yellow or orange, illustrating the spread of influence. The text 'COLD WAR' appears in large, bold letters across the screen, with each letter colored differently, reflecting the various countries involved.
"The Saudi-Iranian rivalry has become a fight over influence, and the whole region is a battlefield. It's why the rivalry is being called a Cold War."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", "Islamic Republic of Iran", "Syria", "Iraq", "Yemen", "Bahrain", "Tunisia", "Morocco", "Libya", "COLD WAR", "Mapbox"
A series of animated maps and historical footage quickly transition. The maps show different regions of the world, with areas highlighted in various colors, then fading to a sepia tone, then to black and white, before finally revealing the 'Vox Atlas' logo.
Setting: world maps — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Vox", "Atlas"
A black and white montage of Cold War imagery plays. This includes military planes flying in formation, tanks parading, a man looking up in a military uniform, and the Soviet and American flags waving side-by-side.
"The most famous Cold War was fought for 40 years between the United States and Soviet Union."
Setting: various — natural
People (1):
• standing, wearing military uniform and military uniform, curly, light-colored hair — looking up, mouth open
Text: "Vox"
A black and white shot of a globe is shown, with a large, dark, cloud-like shadow spreading across it, symbolizing global dominance.
"Looking forward to the day when their flag would fly over the entire world."
Setting: indoor — soft
A world map appears, with the United States highlighted in blue and the Soviet Union in red. Yellow areas then spread across Africa, South America, and parts of Asia, indicating regions of proxy conflict.
"They never declared war on each other, but clashed in proxy wars around the world."
Setting: world map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "United States", "Soviet Union", "Mapbox"
The map shows portraits of leaders and images of rebel groups appearing over the yellow-highlighted proxy conflict zones. Augusto Pinochet (Chile) and Hafez al-Assad (Syria) are shown, along with images of Contra rebels (Nicaragua), Viet Cong (Vietnam), and Mujahedeen (Afghanistan).
"Each side supported dictators, rebel groups, and intervened in civil wars to contain the other."
Setting: world map — even, soft
People (3):
• standing, wearing military uniform and military uniform, dark, short hair — serious
• standing, wearing suit and tie and suit jacket, dark, short hair — serious
• standing, marching, wearing military shirts and military pants, various hair — determined
Text: "Vox", "United States", "Soviet Union", "Augusto Pinochet Chile", "Hafez al-Assad Syria", "Contra rebels Nicaragua", "Viet Cong Vietnam", "Mujahedeen Afghanistan", "People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan", "Mapbox"
The world map transitions back to a focus on the Middle East. Portraits of King Salman of Saudi Arabia (green circle) and Ali Khamenei of Iran (red circle) appear over their respective countries, symbolizing the two rival leaders.
"Like the US and Soviet Union, Saudi Arabia and Iran are two powerful rivals. But instead of fighting for world dominance, they're fighting over control of the Middle East."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, dark headscarf hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — serious
Text: "Vox", "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", "Islamic Republic of Iran", "Mapbox"
The map displays the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding regions. A large yellow overlay appears over much of the Middle East, labeled 'Ottoman Empire'. A timeline at the bottom indicates the year '1900'.
"In the early 1900s, the Arabian Peninsula was a patchwork of tribes under the control of the Ottoman Empire."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Ottoman Empire", "1900", "2017"
The 'Ottoman Empire' overlay shrinks and disappears. A green circle appears over the central Arabian Peninsula, showing a historical black and white photo of men in traditional attire, labeled 'al Saud'. The green area expands to cover most of the peninsula.
"After World War I, the empire collapsed, leaving these tribes to fight each other over power. One tribe from the interior, the al Saud, eventually conquered most of the peninsula."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (1):
• standing, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark hair — serious
Text: "Vox", "Ottoman Empire Collapses", "1900", "1920", "2017", "al Saud"
The green area on the map is now fully labeled 'Kingdom of Saudi Arabia', with the Saudi flag appearing over it. The timeline updates to '1932'.
"In 1932, they were recognized as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", "1900", "1932", "2017", "Saudi Arabia Created"
The map zooms in slightly on Saudi Arabia. The word 'OIL' appears in large, green, block letters over the country. Two black and white photos of oil derricks in a desert landscape appear on the right side of the screen. A small green dot appears, labeled 'Riyadh'. Roads are shown being built across the map. A red, white, and blue American flag appears, connecting to Saudi Arabia with a text overlay 'US-Saudi alliance'.
"Six years later, massive oil reserves were discovered in Saudi Arabia, and in an instant, the Saudi monarchy was rich. That oil money built roads and cities all around the desert country, and it helped forge an alliance with the US."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "OIL", "1938", "Oil Discovered", "Riyadh", "US-Saudi alliance", "1900", "2017"
The map shifts focus to Iran, which is highlighted in red. The previous 'US-Saudi alliance' text disappears. The timeline at the bottom remains.
"On the eastern side of the Persian Gulf, another country was emerging, but having a much harder time."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Iran", "1900", "2017"
Historical overlays appear on the map of Iran, showing areas controlled by Russia (blue, 1800s) and Britain (yellow, 1907). These overlays expand to cover more of Iran, with updated dates (1941) and the text 'Anglo-Soviet occupation'.
"Iran also had massive oil reserves and an even bigger Muslim population. But constant foreign intervention was creating chaos."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Iran", "Russia 1800s", "British 1907", "1941", "Anglo-Soviet occupation", "1900", "2017"
A portrait of Mohammad Mosaddegh appears over Iran, then is replaced by a symbol of a coup (a red circle with a crossed-out image). This is then replaced by a portrait of Reza Shah, monarch of Iran. A montage of historical footage shows military tanks, construction of modern buildings, a woman waterskiing, a woman applying sunscreen, and soldiers in military vehicles firing weapons.
"In 1953, the US secretly staged a coup, removing the popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. In his place, they propped up a monarch, Reza Shah, who was aggressively reforming Iran into a secular, Westernized country."
Setting: various Iranian locations — natural
People (4):
• standing, wearing suit and tie and not visible, bald hair — serious
• standing, wearing military uniform and military uniform, dark, short hair — serious
• sitting, waterskiing, wearing bikini top and bikini bottom, long, dark hair — smiling
• standing, sitting, wearing military fatigues and military fatigues, not visible hair — obscured by helmets
Text: "Vox", "Mohammad Mosaddegh Iranian Premier", "1953", "Mosaddegh Removed", "Reza Shah Monarch of Iran", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East reappears, with Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) highlighted. Portraits of Reza Shah and King Khalid of Saudi Arabia appear over their respective countries, representing the US-backed leaders. The timeline at the bottom updates to '1970s'.
"By the 1970s, both Saudi Arabia and Iran had oil-based economies and had governments heavily backed by the US. But the feelings among each population were very different."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• standing, wearing military uniform and military uniform, dark, short hair — serious
Text: "Vox", "Reza Shah Monarch of Iran", "King Khalid of Saudi Arabia", "1900", "2017"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing subtly to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"Ultimately, at the end of the day, the Shah of Iran, powerful as he was, simply didn't have the same control over his people, or ultimately the same legitimacy and affection that the Saudi people felt toward their monarchy at that point in time."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
A black and white montage of the Iranian Revolution unfolds. This includes large crowds of people, some sitting on motorbikes, soldiers in a truck, people running in the streets, and a large crowd carrying a portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini. A fire burns in the street, destroying a portrait of the Shah.
"That's because Iran's Muslims felt stifled by the Shah's reformations, and by the end of the decade, they finally fought back."
Setting: Iranian cities — natural
People (2):
• standing, running, wearing various and various, various hair — determined, angry
• sitting, standing, wearing military fatigues and military fatigues, not visible hair — obscured by helmets
Text: "Vox", "1979", "Iranian Revolution", "1900", "2017"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing subtly to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"It's really in 1979 when Ayatollah Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution overthrow the Shah, that the real tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia began."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
A black and white montage shows Ayatollah Khomeini. He is seen exiting an airplane, speaking to a crowd from a balcony, and his portrait is carried by a crowd. His stern face and traditional attire are prominent.
"Ayatollah Khomeini was a Muslim clergyman who preached against Western-backed secular monarchies. He advocated for a government that was popular, Islamic, and led by the clergy."
Setting: Iranian cities — natural
People (2):
• walking, speaking, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
• walking, wearing military uniform and military uniform, dark, short hair — serious
Text: "Vox", "1979", "Iranian Revolution", "1900", "2017"
A wide shot of a massive crowd in an Iranian city is shown, with a large yellow banner being carried. The crowd is moving, demonstrating the scale of the revolution.
"And in 1979, he led a revolution to establish just that."
Setting: Iranian city — natural
People (1):
• marching, wearing various and various, not clearly visible hair — not clearly visible
Text: "Vox", "1979", "Iranian Revolution", "1900", "2017"
A black and white montage of the Iranian Revolution continues, showing a crowd carrying a large portrait of Ayatollah Khomeini, and another crowd pulling down a statue. The timeline remains at the bottom.
"It was a massive international event that prompted reactions around the world, especially in Saudi Arabia."
Setting: Iranian cities — natural
People (1):
• marching, pulling, wearing various and various, various hair — determined
Text: "Vox", "1979", "Iranian Revolution", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East is shown with Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) highlighted. The portrait of Reza Shah is replaced by Ayatollah Khomeini, symbolizing the change in leadership in Iran. King Khalid's portrait remains over Saudi Arabia. The timeline at the bottom updates to '1979'.
"The Iranian Revolution terrified the government of Saudi Arabia."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Ayatollah Khomeini Supreme Leader of Iran", "King Khalid of Saudi Arabia", "1979", "Iranian Revolution", "1900", "2017"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing subtly to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"They were fearful that Ayatollah Khomeini would inspire their populations to rise up against them, exactly the way that he had caused the Iranian population to rise up against the Shah."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
The map of the Middle East is shown with Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) highlighted. A background image of the Kaaba in Mecca, surrounded by pilgrims, is visible behind the map. Mecca and Medina are marked with black dots on the map. Ayatollah Khomeini's portrait reappears over Iran, emphasizing his claim to religious leadership.
"And there is a religious threat, too. Up until now, the Saudis had claimed to be the leaders of the Muslim world, largely because Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, are in Saudi Arabia. But Khomeini claimed his popular revolution made Iran the legitimate Muslim state."
Setting: Mecca, Middle East map — natural
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
• praying, wearing white robes and white robes, not clearly visible hair — not clearly visible
Text: "Vox", "Medina", "Mecca", "Ayatollah Khomeini Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox"
The map of the Middle East is shown. Saudi Arabia is labeled 'Sunni' and Iran is labeled 'Shia', with large, bold text. The colors of the countries remain green and red, respectively.
"And there is another divide. Saudi Arabia's population is mostly Sunni, the majority sect of Islam, while Khomeini and Iran are mostly Shia."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Shia", "Sunni", "Mapbox"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing subtly to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"Westerners always make a mistake in drawing an analogy between the Sunni-Shia split and the Protestant-Catholic split within Christianity. The Sunni-Shia split was never as violent. That in much of the Islamic world, when Sunnis and Shia were living in close proximity, they got along famously well."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
The map of the Middle East is shown with Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) highlighted, labeled 'Sunni' and 'Shia' respectively. The titles remain on the map.
"So, while the Sunni-Shia split was not a reason for the rivalry, it was an important division."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Shia", "Sunni", "Mapbox"
The map of the Middle East is shown with Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) highlighted. A document titled 'Iran: Exporting the Revolution' appears on the left, with parts of the text highlighted, detailing Iran's efforts to aid other Islamic revolutionaries.
"After the revolution, the Saudis' fears came to life when Iran began exporting its revolution."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Iran: Exporting the Revolution", "An Intelligence Assessment", "Secret", "137"
The CIA report is zoomed in, with specific phrases highlighted in red boxes, such as 'aiding other Islamic revolutionaries' and 'Shias calling for the overthrow of the Baathist regime'. The map of the Middle East is visible in the background.
"This CIA report from 1980 details how the Iranians started helping groups, mostly Shia, trying to overthrow governments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "Iran: Exporting the Revolution", "aiding other Islamic revolutionaries", "Shias calling for the overthrow of the Baathist regime", "Iraq: The Baathist Target", "Shias"
The CIA report shrinks and moves to the left, revealing more of the Middle East map. Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia are highlighted in yellow, with text overlays indicating they were targets of Iranian revolutionary efforts. The portraits of King Khalid and Ayatollah Khomeini reappear.
"And they prompted the Saudis to redouble their efforts to fight against Iran."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Iraq: The Baathist Target", "Afghanistan: The Communist Menace", "Bahrain, Kuwait, and the Gulf States"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing subtly to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"And they prompted the Saudis to redouble their efforts to fight against Iran."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
The map of the Middle East is shown. A large American flag appears, extending from the US (not visible) to Saudi Arabia, symbolizing their alliance. The text 'Gulf Cooperation Council' appears at the bottom right, with an arrow pointing to Saudi Arabia and surrounding Gulf states.
"They bolstered their alliance with the US and formed the GCC, an alliance with other Gulf monarchies."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "King Fahd of Saudi Arabia", "Ayatollah Khomeini Supreme Leader of Iran", "Gulf Cooperation Council", "Mapbox"
A black and white montage of the Iran-Iraq War begins. This includes Iraqi planes attacking an airport, a crashed plane wreckage with people looking at it, and explosions in a field. The timeline at the bottom updates to '1980'.
"The stage was set for conflict."
Setting: Iran — natural
People (1):
• standing, wearing military shirts and military pants, dark hair — serious
Text: "Vox", "1900", "2017"
A map of the border region between Iraq and Iran is shown, highlighting cities like Khorramshahr and Abadan. The map then transitions to the broader Middle East, with Iraq highlighted in yellow and Iran in red. Portraits of Saddam Hussein (Iraq) and Ayatollah Khomeini (Iran) appear over their respective countries. The timeline updates to '1980'.
"The rise of Iran as a regional power threatened other neighboring countries as well. In September 1980, Iraq, under the rule of dictator Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• standing, wearing military uniform and not visible, dark mustache hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Khorramshahr", "Abadan", "Iraq", "Iran", "Saddam Hussein President of Iraq", "Ayatollah Khomeini Supreme Leader of Iran", "1980", "Iraq Invades Iran", "1900", "2017"
A dotted black line appears along the border between Iraq and Iran, symbolizing the invasion. The portraits of Saddam Hussein and Ayatollah Khomeini remain on screen.
"He was hoping to stop the Iranian Revolution, gain power, and annex some of Iran's oil reserves."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• standing, wearing military uniform and not visible, dark mustache hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Saddam Hussein President of Iraq", "Ayatollah Khomeini Supreme Leader of Iran", "1980", "Iraq Invades Iran", "1900", "2017"
A black and white montage of the Iran-Iraq War continues, showing a tank submerged in water, a soldier in a gas mask in a trench, and soldiers running through smoke. The timeline remains at the bottom.
"But they didn't get far. The war bogged down into a stalemate, complete with trench warfare, chemical weapons, and heavy civilian casualties."
Setting: battlefield — natural
People (2):
• crouching, wearing military fatigues and military fatigues, not visible hair — obscured by gas mask
• running, wearing military fatigues and military fatigues, not clearly visible hair — not clearly visible
Text: "Vox", "1980", "Iraq Invades Iran", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East is shown. Saudi Arabia (green) is now connected to Iraq (yellow) with a green arrow, indicating Saudi support. The portraits of Saddam Hussein, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and Ayatollah Khomeini remain on screen.
"When Iran started winning, the Saudis panicked and came to Iraq's rescue. They provided money, weapons, and logistical help."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (3):
• standing, wearing military uniform and not visible, dark mustache hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Saddam Hussein President of Iraq", "King Fahd of Saudi Arabia", "Ayatollah Khomeini Supreme Leader of Iran", "1980", "Iraq Invades Iran", "1900", "2017"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing emphatically to describe a wall. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"And so it becomes critical to the Saudis that they build up Iraq and build it up into a wall that can hold back the Iranian torrent that they have unleashed."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
A green-tinted night vision shot shows explosions in the distance, followed by silhouettes of soldiers marching across a barren landscape. The timeline at the bottom updates to '1988'.
"The Saudi help allowed Iraq to fight until 1988. By then, nearly a million people had died."
Setting: battlefield — night vision green
People (1):
• marching, wearing military fatigues and military fatigues, not visible hair — not visible (silhouette)
Text: "Vox", "1980", "Iraq Invades Iran", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East is shown. Iraq, highlighted in yellow, is now connected to Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) with arrows, indicating it is a proxy battleground. The portraits of Saddam Hussein, King Fahd, and Ayatollah Khomeini remain on screen. The timeline updates to '2003'.
"The Iranians largely blamed the Saudis for the war, and the feud escalated. Fast forward 15 years, and Iraq again became the scene of a proxy war."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (3):
• standing, wearing military uniform and not visible, dark mustache hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Saddam Hussein President of Iraq", "King Fahd of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "1900", "2017"
A black and white montage shows military vehicles on a road, followed by a wide shot of a river with a bridge and dark smoke rising from the horizon. A large portrait of Saddam Hussein is shown on a wall, with soldiers walking past.
Setting: Iraq — natural
People (1):
• walking, wearing military shirts and military pants, not clearly visible hair — not clearly visible
Text: "Vox", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East is shown. A large American flag appears, extending from the US (not visible) to Iraq (yellow), symbolizing the US invasion. Saddam Hussein's portrait is replaced by a crossed-out image, indicating his overthrow. The timeline updates to '2003'.
"In 2003, the US invaded Iraq and overthrew Saddam Hussein."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "King Fahd of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "2003", "US Invades Iraq", "1900", "2017"
The American flag shrinks and moves slightly, indicating a reduced US presence. The map continues to show Iraq as a central point between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The portraits of King Fahd and Ali Khamenei remain.
"Neither Saudi Arabia or Iran wanted this to happen, since Iraq had been acting as a buffer between them. But problems arose when the US struggled to replace Saddam."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "King Fahd of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "2003", "US Invades Iraq", "1900", "2017"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"The United States has no idea what it's doing in Iraq after 2003, and it makes one mistake after another that creates a security vacuum and a failed state and drives Iraq into all-out civil war."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
The map of the Middle East is shown. Iraq is now filled with multiple circles representing 'Sunni militia' (green AK-47s) and 'Shia militia' (red AK-47s). Lines connect Saudi Arabia (green) to the Sunni militias and Iran (red) to the Shia militias, illustrating their proxy support. The portraits of King Fahd and Ali Khamenei remain on screen.
"Without a government, armed militias took control of Iraq, splintering the population. Sunni and Shia militias suddenly sprang up all over the country. Many were radical Islamist groups who saw an opportunity to gain power amidst the chaos. These militias were ready-made proxies for Saudi Arabia and Iran, and they both seized the opportunity to try and gain power."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — smiling
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Sunni militia", "Shia militia", "Extremist", "King Fahd of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox"
The map of the Middle East is shown, with a yellow overlay appearing over North Africa, labeled 'Arab Spring'. Images of protests and demonstrations are shown over this region. The timeline updates to '2011'.
"That trend continued into the Arab Spring, a series of anti-monarchy, pro-democracy protests that swept through the Middle East in 2011."
Setting: Middle East map — natural
People (1):
• marching, protesting, wearing various and various, various hair — determined, cheering
Text: "Vox", "Arab Spring", "2011", "Arab Spring", "1900", "2017"
A montage of Arab Spring protests is shown, with large crowds of people marching and cheering, some raising their fists. The mood is energetic and defiant.
"And this had very different consequences for Saudi Arabia and Iran."
Setting: Middle Eastern cities — natural, bright
People (1):
• marching, protesting, wearing t-shirts, jackets and various, various hair — cheering, determined
Text: "Vox"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"That is terrifying to the Saudis, who are the ultimate status quo power. They want the region stable, and they don't want anybody rising up and overthrowing a sclerotic autocratic government for fear that it might inspire their own people to do the same."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"The Iranians are the ultimate anti-status quo power. They have been trying for decades to overturn the regional order."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
A montage of events during the Arab Spring is shown. This includes military personnel marching with flowers and flags in Bahrain, police vehicles on a street, and people protesting at night. The timeline remains at the bottom.
"Each country threw their weight behind different groups all over the Middle East. Just like in Iraq, the Saudis began supporting Sunni groups and governments, while Iran helped Shia groups rise up against them."
Setting: Bahrain — natural, bright, night
People (1):
• marching, standing, wearing military shirts, civilian shirts and military pants, civilian pants, dark hair — serious, determined
Text: "Vox", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East and North Africa is shown. Tunisia is highlighted in yellow, with a green circle representing Saudi-backed dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and a red circle representing anti-government protesters. Bahrain is highlighted, with a red circle for Shia protesters and a green circle for Saudi military intervention. Lines extend from Saudi Arabia and Iran to various countries, showing their involvement in different conflicts.
"For example, in Tunisia, the Saudis backed a dictator, while the Iranians stoked protests. In Bahrain, Iran supported Shia leaders seeking to overthrow the government. Saudi Arabia, in turn, sent troops to help quash the unrest. Both got involved in Libya, Lebanon, and Morocco as well."
Setting: Middle East and North Africa map — even, soft
People (2):
• standing, wearing suit and tie and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
• protesting, wearing t-shirt and not visible, dark hair — cheering
Text: "Vox", "2011", "Arab Spring", "Zine El Abidine President of Tunisia", "Anti-government protesters Tunisia", "Bahrain", "Shia protesters Bahrain", "Saudi military Bahrain", "King Salman of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East and North Africa is shown. Lines extend from Saudi Arabia and Iran to various countries, showing their increasing involvement in different conflicts. The circles representing leaders and militias remain on screen.
"As Saudi Arabia and Iran put more and more pressure on these countries, they began to collapse."
Setting: Middle East and North Africa map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "King Salman of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox", "1900", "2017"
The map of the Middle East is shown. Yemen is highlighted, with a green circle representing 'Saudi military Yemen' and a red circle representing 'Houthi rebels Yemen'. Lines connect Saudi Arabia to the Saudi military circle and Iran to the Houthi rebels, illustrating their direct military involvement. The portraits of King Salman and Ali Khamenei remain on screen.
"Now the feud has gone a step further, with both countries deploying their own militaries. In Yemen, the Saudi military is on the ground helping the central government. They are fighting the rebels called the Houthis, who are an Iranian proxy group."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "Saudi military Yemen", "Houthi rebels Yemen", "King Salman of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox"
The map of the Middle East is shown. Syria is highlighted in yellow. A red circle represents 'Iranian military' and 'Hezbollah', fighting in support of dictator Bashar al-Assad (portrait shown). Green circles represent 'Sunni militia' who are Saudi proxies. Lines connect Saudi Arabia to the Sunni militias and Iran to the Iranian military and Hezbollah. The portraits of King Salman and Ali Khamenei remain on screen.
"And the reverse is happening in Syria. The Iranian military is fighting side-by-side with militias, some of them extremist groups like Hezbollah, in support of dictator Bashar al-Assad. They are fighting rebel Sunni groups who are Saudi proxies."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (3):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
• standing, wearing suit and tie and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
Text: "Vox", "Sunni militia", "Iranian military", "Hezbollah", "Bashar al-Assad President of Syria", "King Salman of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox"
The map of the Middle East and North Africa is shown. Lines extend from Saudi Arabia and Iran to various countries, indicating their increasing involvement in different conflicts. The circles representing leaders and militias remain on screen, with more connections shown.
"The more civil wars that broke out in the Middle East, the more Saudi Arabia and Iran became involved."
Setting: Middle East and North Africa map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "King Salman of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox"
Kenneth Pollack speaks directly to the camera, his expression serious and his hands gesturing to emphasize his points. He maintains eye contact with the viewer.
"Neither the government of Saudi Arabia nor the government of Iran are looking for a fight. But the problem is that these civil wars create circumstances that no one could have predicted. Both the Iranians and the Saudis feel their vital national interests are threatened, are in jeopardy, because of different things going on in these civil wars, things that they blame each other for."
Setting: studio — soft, front-lit
People (1):
• standing, facing camera, wearing olive green polo shirt and not visible, short, curly, brown hair — serious, thoughtful
Text: "Vox"
A screenshot of a news headline from 'The Hill' appears on screen, reading 'Saudi Arabia demands Qatar shut down Al-Jazeera, cut ties with Iran'. The date 'June 22, 2017' is visible below the headline.
"Now the Cold War is drawing in other countries. The Saudi government is threatening Qatar, a tiny Gulf state that was developing ties with Iran."
Setting: digital display — even, soft
Text: "Vox", "THE HILL", "Saudi Arabia demands Qatar shut down Al-Jazeera, cut ties with Iran", "June 22, 2017"
The map of the Middle East is shown. ISIS is represented by a large circle with an AK-47 icon, surrounded by various militias and military forces. Lines connect Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) to these groups, showing their competition for influence in the region as ISIS is defeated. The portraits of King Salman and Ali Khamenei remain on screen.
"Meanwhile, in Syria and Iraq, the terrorist group ISIS is nearing defeat, and both the Saudis and Iranians are angling to take control of that territory. It's a Cold War that's becoming incredibly unpredictable."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "ISIS", "King Salman of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox"
The map of the Middle East is shown, with Saudi Arabia (green) and Iran (red) highlighted. The various circles representing leaders and militias remain on screen, symbolizing the ongoing conflicts and power struggles. The portraits of King Salman and Ali Khamenei remain.
"As the Middle East continues to destabilize, it's hard to say how far these countries will go."
Setting: Middle East map — even, soft
People (2):
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, dark, short hair — serious
• sitting, wearing traditional robes and not visible, white beard, black turban hair — stern
Text: "Vox", "King Salman of Saudi Arabia", "Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran", "Mapbox"