"Understanding the Iran-Saudi Arabia rivalry: The evolution of bilateral Relations, Regional Security implications and U.S. influence (1960-2018)".

The study aims to analyse the evolution of bilateral relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia from 1960 until 2018, focusing on regional security dynamics. The historical and political analysis highlights how the rivalry between the two countries has profoundly affected security in the Persian Gulf region, transforming regional alliances. Key factors such as the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the end of the Cold War, the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the Arab Springs of 2011 have increased this rivalry, leading Riyadh and Tehran to use proxy wars in countries such as Syria and Yemen and to form strategic alliances to extend their hegemony and influence. Particular attention is given to U.S. influence, which emerged as a major factor in influencing the dynamics between Iran and Saudi Arabia. US policy, both during the Cold War and in the post-9/11 period, has played an important role in reinforcing or containing regional tensions. Through a qualitative approach and the support of theories such as Barry Buzan and Ole Wæver's Regional Security complex theory, an analysis of the security dynamics that have shaped the balance in the Gulf region and the Middle East will be provided.