March Meetup: Black Wave by Kim Ghattas

“Black Wave” explores the pivotal rivalry between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran, stemming from the 1979 Iranian revolution. Kim Ghattas traces how this rivalry transformed the Middle East, fueling extremism and conflict. Prior to 1979, Saudi Arabia and Iran were allies, but after this turning point, they began using religion to vie for regional dominance, leading to cultural wars and events like the 1991 invasion of Iraq and the rise of ISIS.