The rulers argued that public protests throughout the region were being orchestrated by Shia Iran, and were anti-Sunni and sectarian. The threat of chaos, evident now in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, also weighed in the royal family’s favor.
他们同时也会利用什叶派因素——这一手在以逊尼派为主的沙特社会无往而不利。统治者宣称蔓延整个中东地区的民众抗议活动都是什叶派伊朗幕后操纵的，而且是反逊尼派和号召实施世俗主义的。如今在利比亚，叙利亚和也门上演的动乱威胁也可以被王室利用。历史以来沙特王室都自认是阿拉伯半岛的统治者，而对稳定的承诺也成为王室得以维持统治的关键因素。