Iran and Saudi Arabia have long challenged each other for geopolitical influence in the region, most recently during the ‘proxy war’ in Yemen. Wikimedia image.
The new trove of WikiLeaks covering documents from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs [1] speak to a preoccupation with their regional rival Iran.
So far, 23 documents from the cache are daily briefs from the ministry on Iran.
Most fascinating find of #SaudiCables [2] so far are the 23 Iran Daily Briefs (‘تقرير ايران اليومي’) from '06, '10, '11 https://t.co/T3DRHhL3X0 [3]
— Mahsa Alimardani (@maasalan) June 20, 2015 [4]
Social media users have also noted the focus on Iran in the cables. Of the 60,000 documents leaked so far, around 1,500 reference Iran or Iranian in English and Arabic. As more analysis of the documents emerge, the Foreign Ministry's specific concerns in relation to Iran become apparent.
This leaked document shows #Saudi [5] concern over a homegrown Iranian jet fighter #SaudiCables [2] #Iran [6] pic.twitter.com/y73oVm4A6W [7] — Darius Caspian (@DariusCaspian) June 20, 2015 [8]
#KSA [9] was suspicious of #Iran [6] #Egypt [10] relationship during #Morsi [11] presidency #SaudiCables [2] #Saudileaks [12] pic.twitter.com/CjYzaQBZQL [13]
— Hassan Ridha (@sayed_ridha) June 20, 2015 [14]
#SaudiCables [2] show overwhelming obsession of #SaudiArabia [15] with regards to #Iran [6] and Shiism. https://t.co/9gHrITV3HQ [16] — Victor J. Willi (@victorjwilli) June 20, 2015 [17]
Real nugget from #SaudiCables [2]: panic abt #Iran [6] amid Arab Spring on full display, signed by then FM Faisal. https://t.co/DsKJNujyQq [18] — Mohammad Ali Shabani (@mashabani) June 20, 2015 [19]
Leaked Saudi Foreign Ministry documents include cables on interference with the broadcast of IRIB's @alalam_news [20]. https://t.co/vG853TJyKC [21] — Collin Anderson (@CDA) June 19, 2015 [22]
This leaked document shows #Saudi [5] concern over a homegrown Iranian jet fighter #SaudiCables [2] #Iran [6] pic.twitter.com/y73oVm4A6W [7]
— Darius Caspian (@DariusCaspian) June 20, 2015 [8]
Some Saudi Arabian social media users have claimed the leaks as an Iranian hack; however, others have been quick to pour cold water on these claims.
In case you missed it, #Iran [6] hacked into #Saudi [5] government computers and forwarded tons of documents to wikileaks, which posted them online
— Hussain AbdulHussain (@hahussain) June 19, 2015 [23]
Arab liberal going nuts over #SaudiCables [2]. No comment on the Saudi regime's destructive policies. Just Iran Iran Iran pic.twitter.com/37SqOie8Ip [24]
— كريم (@ArabSecularist) June 20, 2015 [25]