For decades, the two countries were perceived as complementary pillars of the pro-Western Sunni bloc in the Gulf. However, in recent years this relationship has gradually evolved from a strategic alliance into a discreet but growing geopolitical competition centered on the control of trade routes, strategic ports, and zones of political influence in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.

The confirmation of the death of Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, announced this Sunday (03/01/2026) by the state communication network, was followed by a series of questions in both the international and domestic arenas, mostly concerning the stability of the Iranian regime and the impact of a forced power transition on regional security—especially in light of the attacks initiated by the Persian country against U.S. bases located in countries such as the United Arab Em