Demonstrators on the streets of Tehran protested against Saudi Arabia and its activities in the region, as tensions between the two arch-rivals mark an all-time high, ahead of the Muslim holiday of Id-al-Fiter. The war of words between the Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Shi’ite Muslim Islamic Republic of Iran intensified this week on the eve of haj, the mass pilgrimage which every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to make the journey, is obliged to undertake at least once in his life-time. This year pilgrims from Iran will be unable to attend the haj, which officially starts on September 11, after talks between the two nations broke down in May. The deteriorating relations between Tehran and Riyadh, two countries embroiled in proxy wars against one another across the region, including Syria, Iraq and Yemen, among others, have raised concerns among security experts whom warn the situation may well lead to an armed conflict between the two countries.