Saudi Arabia viewed the revolution as a direct ideological threat, fearing the export of Shi’a revolutionary ideals to its own Shi’a minority population. The fall of the Shah ended a chapter of cautious diplomacy and ushered in decades of open rivalry between the two countries. The meetings between Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Saudi leaders were emblematic of a period when diplomacy was driven by mutual necessity rather than genuine alliance. While tensions were ever-present, especially over ideology and regional leadership, both monarchies recognized the value in maintaining dialogue and managing competition through diplomacy, economic cooperation, and shared security concerns.
