Saudi Arabia announced Sunday that it has cut diplomatic ties with Iran and Iranian diplomats were given 48 hours to leave the country. The United Arab Emirates on Monday recalled its ambassador from Iran and downgraded diplomatic relations with Tehran. On the same day, Bahrain and Sudan both severed relations with Iran. Countries began to take sides following the escalation of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Middle East situation is spiraling out of control. Against the will of the US and Europe, Saudi Arabia this time took the initiative to challenge Iran, further altering the balance of power in the region. The détente between the US and Iran won't go far due to varied restraints, but the subtle changes in the bilateral relationship are unacceptable to Saudi Arabia. Coupled with the fact that the West's ability to influence the Middle East is waning, uncertainties in the region are piling up.

The Arab Spring could be seen as a turning point. It has impaired the confidence that countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia have in the US, and also led to more independence of Turkey. After that, Iraq has moved closer to Iran and the civil war in Syria has slipped out of the US or European control. Besides, the Islamic State has emerged, adding uncertainties to the region.

The Saudi Arabia-Iran confrontation is by no means a one-against-one rivalry, but sees some Middle Eastern forces standing behind each side. Saudi Arabia, as Sunni leader of the Gulf region, is raising tensions, however, Iran is a formidable rival in mobilizing Shiite followers. It is worrying whether confrontation between these two countries will give more rise to terrorism.

 All big powers feel the limit of their influence facing the Middle East situation. No country wants to see the region become messier due to worry about the expansion of terrorism. The US and Europe are no longer as obsessed with revolution as they were at start of the Arab Spring. They now believe that the direction of revolution is not in their control, and can easily be burnt.

The most worrisome thing is that terrorism will interfere and disturb people's judgment on the nature of the conflicts in the Middle East. Historically, Western powers have been behind the persistent conflicts among Islamic countries. A united Islamic world would bring more worries to the West than if they are in discord. Using Arabic countries to contain Iran has long been the principle of the US Middle East policy. In conclusion, the Middle East is complex, yet the US has the biggest considerations. The West is still the biggest contribution to the uncertainty in the Middle East.