Nayef as Security Czar

Some analysts are suggesting that Prince Nayef's recent appointment is because King Abdullah was worried about potential threats from Iran:

"Saudi Arabia's appointment of its top security official as a deputy to the king should address concerns over Iranian influence, after tensions with its Shiite minority escalated to a rare threat of secession, analysts say...

"'This was a careful arrangement among top royals. Prince Sultan's absence left a big void and raised many questions over the efficiency of decision-making system. This appointment solves this big issue,' a senior Saudi official said on condition of anonymity."

I guess the thinking behind this is that bumping up the long-time Interior Minister also bumps up the portfolio with which he deals? A deeper issue here is the apparent Saudi belief that Iran is behind recent restiveness among the country's Shi'ites. Repression under the anti-Shi'ite Wahhabi regime probably has far more to do with it.