The Saudi began investing and spreading a violent for of sunni islam under wahabism when ayatollah took over iran in 1979. Also ayatollah ascend to power coincide with mecca kaabah hostage incident by shiite gunmen resulting in many deaths.
(The 1979 Grand Mosque seizure was a 15-day siege (Nov 20 – Dec 4) where hundreds of Islamic militants led by Juhayman al-Otaybi took control of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, trapping thousands of pilgrims. The militants, protesting against the ruling Saud dynasty, declared the Mahdi (a messianic figure) had arrived)
Like a knee jerk reaction to be hollier than thou. Saudi became a hermit kingdom like iran. Women must wear burka etc.