A conference call exchange on Tuesday, January 26, from 11:00am to 12:00pm PT, on recent developments in the cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran following Riyadh's execution of 47 men on January 2, including prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The cold war between the Middle East's largest rivals has worsened over the past few weeks after Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite cleric accused of terrorism, and Iranian protestors responded by firebombing the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. Riyadh swiftly cut diplomatic ties with Tehran the very next day, with the Saudi minister of foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, ordering Iranian diplomats to leave the country. The fued threatens to upset a host of complicated issues in the region, from the Iranian nuclear deal and the global oil market to the Syrian civil war. What are the underlying causes of the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran? How will their widening rift impact the region?

Featuring: 

Dr. Roby Barrett, Non Resident Expert, Middle East Institute & President of C-COMM Corporation

Dr. Roby Barrett is the president of a consulting firm, specializing in defense and security technology applications and systems including nuclear issues, police-border security, command and control, and weapons acquisition issues. Read more.

Dr. Mohsen Milani, Executive Director, Center for Strategic & Diplomatic Studies & Professor of Politics, University of South Florida

Dr. Mohsen Milani is the Executive Director of the Center for Strategic & Diplomatic Studies and Professor of Politics at the University of South Florida. Read more.

Moderator:

Mr. Elexander Michaelson, Reporter & Fill-In Anchor, KABC-TV

Elex Michaelson is a general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News who grew up in Agoura Hills and always dreamed of reporting the news in his hometown. Read more.

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