Saudi Arabia and Iran Compared
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Published 2018-09-28
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Mr. Beat compares and contrasts Saudi Arabia and Iran, two Middle Eastern countries with governments that apparently hate each other.
Special thanks to the AP Archive for footage for this video. It made a huge difference! AP Archive website: www.aparchive.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: www.facebook.com/APArchives
YouTube: youtube.com/c/aparchive and youtube.com/c/britishmovietone
Produced by Matt Beat. All images used with permission or fall under fair use guidelines or found in public domain. Music by Electric Needle Room (Matt Beat).
Sources:
www.indexmundi.com/factbook/compare/iran.saudi-ara…
www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42008809
foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/07/the-first-saudi-irani…
www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/01/…
www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2018/04/face…
www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/01/04/five-…
• Video
www.mylifeelsewhere.com/country-size-comparison/sa…
graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf
theduran.com/10-ways-iran-democratic-modern-saudi-…
www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=oil_whe…
Photo credits:
Behrooz Rezvani
Ninara
Lawepw
B.alotaby
Ali Mansuri
Gregor Rom
Zakaryaamr
Ninara
Greger Ravik
Adam Jones
www.kremlin.ru
Orijentolog
Sekretärin
PersianDutchNetwork
Ehsan Mosleh
Mardetanha
marviikad
Erik Albers
Peter Dowley
Directorsnote
Saudi Arabia and Iran
Separated by the Persian Gulf, the two neighboring countries that have been competing for dominance over the past few decades in a region referred to as The Middle East. Both apparently hate each other. Well, at least their governments do. In recent years, the two countries have been either directly or indirectly involved in several different conflicts throughout the Middle East.
Both countries are run by theocracies, or governments made up of religious leaders. Their religion? Islam. However, Iran does have democracy and a constitution, making it officially a theocratic republic. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. The king is in charge, making decisions under the guidance of religious leaders and top princes of the royal family. In Saudi Arabia, the Quran is the official constitution of the country.
But yeah, both countries have really authoritarian governments, both ranking near the bottom on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index. An example of this? Both have state-run broadcast media that dominate how citizens get information and regularly feed them pro-government propaganda. There are no private, independent broadcasters. Satellite dishes are even banned in both countries, although people still have them anyway. Private newspapers or magazines are heavily censored. That all said, Iran is a bit more free than Saudi Arabia. At least their government has to be somewhat accountable or they get the boot. And in Saudi Arabia, it’s illegal to be an atheist, punishable by death. Wait, what’s that? Oh, apparently you can get killed for being an atheist in Iran, too.
The vast majority of citizens in both countries are Muslims. However, they are of two different branches of Islam. Around 90-95% in Iran practice Shia Islam, whereas around 85%-90% in Saudi Arabia practice Sunni Islam. This Shia-Sunni divide has been contentious for centuries and always demonstrated an underlying rift between the two countries. But Saudi Arabia can boast Islam started within its borders. It regularly attracts millions to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities for Muslims. Medina is where the founder of Islam, Muhammad, is buried. Mecca, the holiest city of them all, attracts Muslims from all over the world each year with the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage all Muslims are expected to make at least once in their life.
Both countries have a similar birth rate and a similar population growth rate. However, Iran has 2 and a half times more people than Saudi Arabia, despite the fact that it has less land area.
All Comments (21)
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I am a saudi guy, i went to los Angeles last summer and an iranian guy sat next to me and we introduced our selfs and talked for 15 minutes. He was such a nice guy
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I guess this guy calls Italy, eyetaly..
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I’m a Saudi and I got no beef with my Iranian brothers. Love to Iran from Saudi😘
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The war between the government not between the people we love each other yes we have some different in religion Nevertheless, we don't have hatred for each other. I'm Saudi I love IIranian citizen We are brothers sane or shae we are all muslims
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I worked in an international school that was pretty much split between Iranian and Saudi students. First week of term they were very wary of each other. Second week, all best friends. Once politics is removed we can pretty much all get along great.
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I've never been there, but Tehran has almost as many people as New York City!
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Lol every Iranian got triggered when he said "I-ran"
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0:59 🤭 Your flags are in the wrong places
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America: we don’t support theocracies Saudi Arabia: want our oil? America: I take that back
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The way he pronounces "eye-ran" is infuriating. Iran, man.
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“I ran” i guess italy is “eyetaly”
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I'm Iranian. The fact they every man has to join the military as they turn 18 isn't true. there is complimentary military service but not necessarily at 18
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i'm iranian and I'm sure there are good people in Saudi Arabia. By the way, Most people in Iran are not religious.
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I'm from Saudi Arabia but I love IRAN and Iranian people.
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3:15 Iraq : allah why me 💔
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We don't want war between Islamic countries we want them to unite Love from Libya
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My college astronomy professor in 2008 was a woman from Iran. She was very sweet, and very intelligent.
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1. Thank you for using the proper historic band of Persian Gulf 2. Iran is actually pronounced with and E sound. EEraan.
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As an Muslim Iranian i dont think that there's animosity among people of Saudi and Persia the politics is Splitting them Love Arabic & i hope one day travel there🌹🌹🌹💗
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"All men have to join the military when they are 18" Well its not that...so people will join the military if they do not study and go for college besides it's just for like a year or 2 then your off and living your life. Thank you for your time
