abstract
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This chapter examines the international politics of the Gulf region, with particular emphasis on the security challenges confronting the Gulf states. It begins with an analysis of the policies of Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well as the United Statess increased involvement, focusing on the issues of regime security, political identity, and balance-of-power politics as they emerged during the IranIraq War of 19801988 and the Gulf War of 19901991, and also from the Saudis alliance decisions in the face of those wars and the Iraq War of 2003. It also discusses Irans role, its nuclear programme, and relations with the Arab Gulf states and concludes with some remarks on the significance of the negotiations between Iran and the so-called P5+1, along with the ramifications of the SaudiIran rivalry for the international politics of the Gulf and the balance of power in the entire region.