Iran's regional enemies watch unrest, searching for leverage
Iran's top regional foes, Saudi Arabia and Israel, are both eagerly looking for signs of vulnerability and imminent change in their nemesis amid the past week of protests across the country. But they've taken vastly different approaches on how to engage with the upheaval.
Saudi officials have not officially made any statements yet about the wave of unrest, perhaps wary of being seen to meddle. Israel has taken a much bolder approach, seeking to speak directly to Iranian protesters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised in a video released this week what he called the bravery of the Iranian protesters seeking freedom and lambasted Iran's "cruel regime" for spending billions of dollars "spreading hate."
The protests appear to have caught Iranians, the region, the United States and European countries off guard.
