Iran’s Supreme Ruler, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused Saudi officials of committing treason by virtue of their cooperation with the United States and Israel. The statement did not come as a surprise since Khamenei, the most powerful figure in the predominant Shiite nation in the region, leads the arch rival of Saudi Arabia, the largest Sunni Muslim nation. Together, Iran and Saudi Arabia anchor what is arguably the most lethal conflict in the Middle East. The two sides and the instability the hostility the competition generates is visible in all of the region’s hot-spots, including Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria where Iran is spending heavily on arms and military equipment for its proxy fighting forces. The movement by the Sunni states to openly interact and cooperate with Israel has enraged the Shiites including Iran even before President Trump added fuel to the fire by acknowledging Israeli sovereignty over its capital, Jerusalem. But despite the Trump statement, the ancient adage that says “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” is playing out as the Sunni leaders conclude that they need Israel’s military prowess on their side in order to defeat Iran. At the same time, they conclude the Palestinians are not able to match the immediate value of the Israeli army.