Saudi Arabia and Iran: U of T experts explain the situation
With the execution of prominent critic and Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Jan 2, Saudi Arabia has triggered a renewed escalation of the Shia-Sunni sectarian conflict in the Middle East.
The execution has sparked marches, the pullback of diplomatic missions and heightened tensions and fears that the Syrian peace talks will be affected.
As the U.S. works behind the scenes to calm ruffled egos, and Iraq and Russia offer to mediate between the two regional powers, U of T News spoke with Stephen Toope, director of U of T's Munk School of Global Affairs, and Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi, professor of Near and Middle East civilizations at UTM's Department of Historical Studies, about the history of the conflict and why Canadians need to pay attention.