Problem 1: Iran and Saudi Arabia are the two most significant Muslim powers in the Middle East. How are they different (ethnically/religiously) from each other and what are the biggest points of conflict between the two countries?
Problem 2: What role did the United States play in the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 and why is the United States so hated in Iran, particularly by the Iranian government?
Problem 3: What has the Saudi government been criticized for by both American and Middle Eastern critics? Why has the United States long been supportive of the Saudi government despite its many controversial actions?
Problem 4: Provide a two sentence summary of what happened in the following conflicts:
- Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s
- War in Syria
- War in Yemen