Saudi Arabia on Sept. 14 suffered its most significant attack since armed militants ambushed the Grand Mosque in Mecca nearly 40 years ago. The 1979 Grand Mosque seizure shaped Saudi Arabia's strategic perception of the world and its rivalry with Iran, and the recent strike on the kingdom's Abqaiq and Khurais oil processing facilities will do the same; the question is how. To protect its vital oil sector, Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly mulling several different options for escalation and de-escalation with Iran. Based on the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's past actions and his outspoken criticism of Tehran, the former may be more likely. Saudi Arabia's Regional Status Quo Saudi Arabia's current regional strategy hinges on securing its territory and population from jihadist and anti-government threats, while defending Riyadh's leadership role in the Muslim and Arab worlds .