Hello, Ken. I am familiar with the Persian vs Arab tension and its long standing tradition in the ME wars and empires. When I speak of religious channels however, I am chiefly referring to Mahdism, the belief in the return of the Hidden Imam, or Rightly Guided One which Shia from both sides of the border share. This belief is gaining momentum from what I can tell as there are many who believe their activities can hasten this eschatological event. I posted a lengthy quote about it here which is probably the wrong location for it.

The main obstacle to the Mahdi's return is
explained by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's
religious advisor in his own words:
In a 2006 speech marking the Mahdi’s birthday, Ayatollah
Mesbah-e Yazdi emphasized the importance of fighting
heresy, which, in his opinion, is delaying the coming of
the Mahdi:
“...Our noblest duty is to strive to reduce oppression, to be
more [stringent] in our implementation of Islamic law... and to weaken
the control of oppressive and tyrannical regimes over the oppressed.
These [actions] can [hasten] the return of the Hidden Imam...
[establish] the religious laws as the dominant [values] of society,
[ensure] that religious faith be taken as a consensus at conferences,
and limit the [control of the oppressors, i.e. of the Western powers]
over the oppressed throughout the world – both Muslim and non-Muslim.
[This is what we must do] in order to prepare the ground for the
Mahdi’s coming. Thus, the greatest obligation of those awaiting the
appearance of the Mahdi is fighting heresy and global arrogance.”
Link here.