Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

The Gulf States and Iranian Hostility | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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The Arab Gulf states responded with one collective voice to statements made by Iran’s Assistant Minister of Foreign for Research Affairs Manuchehr Mohammadi, in which he questioned the legitimacy and survival of the Gulf States.

The response was made by Dr. Abdul Rahman al Attiya, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who pointed out that the Gulf States felt “very disappointed and deeply concerned” about the Iranian official’s statements. Al Attiya described these words as “irresponsible and blatant”, stressing that the GCC states await an immediate clarification from the Iranian side.

Here we must discuss two points, with words that are clear and explicit. First, I’m disappointed by the actual disappointment of the Gulf States from the Iranian regime, because when have the Gulf States ever really believed that the Iranian regime viewed them from a neighborly perspective or one of mutual respect?

Haven’t the Gulf States seen first hand what Iran is doing with the entire region’s security in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, since the start oh the Khomeini revolution?

Do the Gulf States believe for a second that Iran’s problem lies only with Riyadh? Or with Kuwait or the UAE solely? Whoever is of that belief is incorrect and the Gulf States are making a mistake by forgetting that the main reason for the establishment of their Council was to confront Iranian ambitions?

What must be said to all the people of the Gulf and not just the Qataris who welcomed Ahmadinejad at the Doha summit, is that sideline flirting and the sending of contradictory messages to Tehran based on political miscalculations is what has made it easy for the Mullahist regime to tamper and intervene in the Arab Gulf’s security and stability.

The Gulf States weak positions on Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Hamas has given Iran the opportunity to interfere in our affairs, break our ranks and in the process reach a level of egomania and arrogance as to question the legitimacy of the GCC, while clearly threatening it with the nuclear issue.

The people of the Gulf need to recognize that they are under an illusion if they believe that Iran perceives them as regimes and states that deserve to live safely. If that were the case then that would mean that Tehran has forsaken the revolution and has turned against itself, which is unimaginable.

Consequently, the second point must be raised here in the form of a question; do the Gulf States want to see Arab regimes similar to them in political rationality stability and development or do they want totalitarian revolutionary regimes?

The leaders of the Gulf Arab States’ need to clearly specify their positions concerning Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Hamas and Hezbollah, likewise the people of the Gulf need to determine whether they are Arabs who fear Iran or Arabs that are dedicated to the stability of their homeland and people.

As long as the Gulf States here have decided to speak politically with one voice, they must also act collectively, since it is unacceptable to be a prince or sheikh while at the same time a friend of Hassan Nasrallah’s, offering words of condolence for Imad Mughniyeh and collaborating with the regimes that shelter and sponsor them. The Gulf countries must decide because everything has a price!