Cold Wars begin when Nuclear weapons might be involved in a conflict where it is not in the interests of countries to actually engage in direct warfare without one or both of them ceasing to exist because all (or most) people in both nations would be dead from nuclear weapons.
However, both sides are seriously angry at each other and under normal circumstances would go to all out war.
However, nuclear weapons have made many conflicts on earth (since 1945) very abnormal and likely warfare between developed nations cannot directly ever happen again without ending those nations and peoples directly.
One could say the two leader countries in this fight are Iran versus Saudi Arabia. However, that is not as useful as you might think.
Because here is a list of Sunni Nations that have a problem with Iran, Iraq, Syria and Hezbollah:
1. Saudi Arabia
2. Turkey
3. Kuwait
4. Egypt
5. Libya
and I could go on from here as well. Because most nations in the Middle East are majority Sunni except for Iran and Iraq. Even though Syria is ruled by Shias it also is majority Sunni Muslim which is why Syria is such a mess right now.
Another problem nation is Yemen because though Sunnis are a majority there it is not by much so I think 45% of the Yemen nation are Shias who are of the Houthi Tribe mostly.
So, this particular Cold War began over Syria though it also could be said that the Sunnis likely were also unhappy with Iraq becoming ruled by Shias after Saddam Hussein was deposed even though most Sunnis didn't like him because he was so ruthless and killed so many of his own people including with poison gas.
Here is an excellent article that explains all this much better than I likely could:
Sunni - Shiite Split
Behind the Scenes of the Saudi / Iran Smackdown
Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iraq border the Strait of Hormuz.
Updated
January 04, 2016.
The two major powers in the Middle East are Saudi Arabia, an Arab
population ruled by a Sunni majority, and Iran, a Persian population
ruled by a Shia majority. The Sunni-Shiite split is represented as a
religious one. Don't be fooled. It's really an economic battle between
Iran and Saudi Arabia over who will control the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil passes. How the Split Plays Out In the Middle East Today
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The United States usually allies itself with Sunni-led countries. That's because 40% of its imported oil passes through the Strait. However, it allied with the Shiites in the Iraq War and the Nuclear Deal with Iran.
Who's Who
Saudia Arabia - Led by the royal family of Sunni fundamentalists.
U.S. ally and major oil trading partner, leader of OPEC. In
the 1700s, Muhammad ibn Saud (founder of the Saudi dynasty), allied
with the religious leader Abd al-Wahhab to unify all Arabian tribes.
After the Shiites took power in Iran in 1979, the Sauds financed
Wahhabi-centered mosques and religious schools throughout the Middle
East. Wahabism is an ultra-conservative branch of Sunni Islam, and Saudi Arabia's state religion.
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(Source: Congressional Research Service, Islam: Sunnis and Shias, January 28, 2009)
Iran
- Led by Shia fundamentalists, with only 9% Sunni. The world's fourth
largest oil producer. The United States supported the Shah who was
non-fundamentalist Shia. In 1979, he was overthrown by the Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeni. As the Supreme Leader of
Iran, he guides all elected leaders. He condemned the Saudi monarchy as
an illegitimate clique that answers to Washington, not God. In 2006,
the U.S. asked the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions
on Iran if it didn’t agree to suspend uranium enrichment.
Resultant economic crisis is motivating Iran to negotiate deal with United States.
Iraq -
Ruled by 63% Shia majority after U.S. toppled Sunni leader Saddam
Hussein. This shifted the balance of power in the Middle East, as the
Shia reaffirmed their alliance with Iran and Syria. Although the U.S.
wiped out al Qaida leaders, the Sunni insurgents became the Islamic
State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). They recaptured a large portion of
western Iraq in June 2014. Iran backs Shia majority against Sunni ISIS.Syria - Ruled by 13% Shia minority. Allied with Shia-ruled Iran and Iraq. Passes arms from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Persecute Sunni minority, some of whom are al Qaida. U.S. and neighboring Sunni countries back the Sunni, non-al Qaida rebels. (Source: About Middle East Issues, Iran and Saudi Arabia - Middle East Cold War)
Lebanon - Ruled jointly by Christians (39%), Sunni (22%) and Shia (36%). The 1975-1990 civil war allowed two Israeli invasions and Israeli and Syrian occupations that lasted more than two decades. Reconstruction was set back in 2006 when Hezbollah and Israel fought in Lebanon.
Egypt - Ruled by 90% Sunni majority. Christians and Shias persecuted. Arab Spring in 2011 deposed Hosni Mubarak. The Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi was elected president in 2012, but he was deposed in 2013. The Egyptian military rules until the 2014 elections.
Jordan - Kingdom ruled by 92% Sunni majority. Between 55-70% of the populations is Palestinians. Now being overrun by Syrian Sunni refugees, who could bring the war to Jordan if they are chased by Shiites bent on revenge.
Turkey - Sunni majority rules benignly over Shiite minority (15%). However, Shiites are getting worried Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is becoming more fundamentalist like Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain - Sunni minority (30%), backed by Saudi Arabia and U.S., rules Shia majority. Is the base for the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, which guards the Straits of Hormuz. (Source: Toronto Star, Sunni-Shia split the Mid-East's New Great Divide, September 6, 2013)
Afghanistan, Libya, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Yemen - Sunni majority rules Shia minority. Iran supports Shia Houthi in Yemen.
Israel - Jewish majority (75%) rules Sunni minority (17.4%).
Sunni-Shia Split and Terrorism
Fundamentalist factions of both Sunnis and Shiites promote terrorism. They believe in jihad, which is a holy war waged both outside (against infidels) and inside (against personal weaknesses).Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) - Sunnis that have claimed territory in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. Make money by selling low-cost oil on "their" land. Evolved from al Qaida in Iraq. Feel they have the right to murder or enslave all non-Sunnis. Opposed by Syrian leadership (Assad, who is backed by Russia), and by Kurds in Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. (Source: "Absolute Evil, Absolute Folly," Forbes, December 28, 2015. " Al-Qaeda linked groups expand into Lebanon," Al Jazeera, January 26, 2014)
al Qaida - Sunni. Want to replace non-fundamentalist governments with authoritarian Islamic states governed by religious law (sharia). Believe Shiites want to destroy Islam and recreate Persian Empire. Restoring Palestine by eliminating Israel is considered a holy undertaking. Condemn those who don't agree with narrow Sunni beliefs. Attacked the U.S. on 9/11.
Hamas - Sunni Palestinians. Intent on removing Israel and restoring Palestinian country. Iran has returned to supporting it.
Hezbollah - Iran-backed Shiite defender in Lebanon. Now attractive even to Sunnis because it beat Israeli attacks in Lebanon in 2000, and launched successful rocket attacks against Haifa and other cities. Recently sent fighters to Syria with backing from Iran. Al Qaida worries it will restore Persian Empire.
Muslim Brotherhood - Sunni. Predominant in Egypt and Jordan. Founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hasan al-Banna to promote networking, philanthropy and spreading the faith. It grew into an umbrella organization for Islamist groups in Syria, the Sudan, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, Libya and Iraq.(Source: NYT, The Enemy of My Enemy Is Still My Enemy, Bernard Haykel)
Sunni-Shia Split and Nationalism
The Sunni-Shia split is complicated by the nationalistic schism between Middle East countries. Arabs descend from the Ottoman Empire (15th - 20th century) while Iran descends from the Persian Empire (16th century).Arabian Sunnis worry that the Iranian Shiites are building a Shiite Crescent through Iran, Iraq and Syria. They see this as a reemergence of the Shia Safavid dynasty in the Persian Empire. That's when Shiites conspired to resurrect Persian imperial rule over the Middle East and then the world. The “Sassanian-Safavid conspiracy” refers to the Sassanians, a pre-Islamic Iranian dynasty, and to the Safavids, a Shiite dynasty that ruled Iran and parts of Iraq from 1501 till 1736. Although Shiites in Arab countries ally themselves with Iran, they don't trust Persians either. (Source: BBC, Shia-Sunni Split; Gatestone Institute, The U.S. Role in the Sunni-Shi'ite Conflict, May 17, 2013)
Sunni-Shia Split and U.S. Involvement in Middle Eastern Wars
The United States receives 20% of its oil from the Middle East. That makes the region of economic importance to us. As a global power, the United States has a legitimate role in the Middle East of protecting the Gulf oil routes. Between 1976-2007, the United States spent $8 trillion doing just that. That dependence has lessened as shale oil is developed domestically, and reliance on renewable resources increases. Nevertheless, America must protect its interests, allies and its personnel stationed in the region.(Source: Princeton University, United States Cost of Military Projection in the Persian Gulf, January 7, 2010)Here's a brief timeline of the U.S. wars in the Middle East:
Iran Hostage Crisis - Following the 1979 revolution, the U.S. allowed the deposed Shah into the country for medical treatment. To protest, the Ayatollah let the U.S. Embassy be overrun, and 90 people taken hostage, including 62 Americans. After a failed military rescue, the U.S. agreed to released the Shah's assets to free the hostages. (CNN, Iran Hostage Crisis Fast Facts, March 17, 2014)
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) -- Iran fought a war with Iraq that led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987 and 1988. The U.S. designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism for promoting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite this, the U.S. financed the Nicaraguan “contras” rebellion against the Sandinista government by secretly selling arms to Iran. This created the Iran-Contra Scandal in 1986, implicating the Reagan Administration in illegal activities.
Gulf War - In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. The U.S. led forces to free Kuwait in 1991.
Afghanistan War - U.S. removed the Taliban from power for harboring Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida.
Iraq War (2003 - 2011) -- U.S. invaded Iraq, replaced Sunni leader Saddam Hussein with Shiite leader. The U.S. removed active-duty troops in 2011. The U.S. renewed airstrikes in 2014 when ISIS beheaded two American reporters.
Arab Spring - Initially started by young people who, tired of high unemployment and repressive regimes, called for democracy.
Syrian Conflict - Began in 2011 to overthrow Bashar al-Assad as part of the Arab Spring movement.
History
The Sunni-Shite divide occurred in 632 AD when the prophet Muhammad died. Sunnis believed that the new leader should be elected, and chose Muhammad's advisor, Abu Bakr. "Sunni" in Arabic means "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet."Shiites believed that the new leader should have been Muhammad's cousin/son-in-law, Ali bin Abu Talib. As a result, Shiites have their own Imams, who they consider holy. They consider their Imans to be the true leaders, not the state. "Shia" comes from "Shia-t-Ali," or "the Party of Ali."
Sunni and Shiite Muslims have more in common than they do apart. They believe that Allah is the one true God, and that Muhammed is his prophet. They read the Quran, and adhere to the following five pillars of Islam:
- Sawm - Fast during Ramadan (the ninth lunar cycle in the Islamic calendar).
- Hajj - Pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, at least once.
- Shahada - Pledge the faith.
- Salat - Pray.
- Zakat - Give charity to the poor.
- useconomy.about.com
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Dec 27, 2015 · The Sunni-Shiite split is an economic war ... U.S. and neighboring Sunni countries back ... to resuscitate Persian imperial rule over the Middle East and ...
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