First, Iranian physical isolation of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States is almost complete. Iran's growing military capabilities (soon to be augmented by its possession of nuclear weapons), will put it in the position to close passage through the Straits of Hormuz, cutting off the ability to export petroleum via standard shipping lanes. The attempt to overthrow Assad and replace him with a government willing to allow a pipeline through Syria is probably off the table--Russian involvement means that Assad (or some other puppet of Iran and/or Russia) blocks that move. And a proposed pipeline through Yemen is foreclosed--at least for now--by the Iranian backed civil war there.
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Third, Israel will, whether it likes it or not, play a role. Will Saudi Arabia or other Gulf States engage in some sort of rapprochement with Israel? After all, a pipeline through Syria could easily be shifted to run through Israel; and Saudi Arabia would benefit from any strikes Israel makes against Iranian nuclear facilities. And, once ISIS is destroyed, what will Iran do with all those troops sitting on the border with Israel? Especially if it could somehow convince (drag) Russia into joining an attack on Israel?
Interesting times indeed.
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