The solution to stability in the Gulf can best be achieved by 'removing American forces, well entrenched across the region, and setting up, with Tehran, a regional security alliance.' Not my words, but the words of Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’s foreign minister. He was in Bahrain and speaking to a large group of Arabs and Westerners. Of course Mr. Mottaki's call for more self-reliance in the Gulf has personal motives, like Iran's ambition for regional superpower status. (Financial Times.com)
“It’s amusing,” says one American official. “Iran is saying, ‘Get rid of foreign forces and take us as the regional power.’”The events of the past year have underlined Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East and its determination to become a nuclear power. But they have also reinforced the perception of Shia Iran as the biggest strategic threat to Washington’s Sunni allies in the Gulf, home to two-thirds of the world’s oil reserves.
Tehran’s regional strategy has been to back militant groups that confront Israel, positioning itself as a stronger defender of Arab and Palestinian rights than its Arab neighbours.
The countries in the region are having to take a hard look at their relationships. It will be difficult for some when they must choose between the United States and Iran. Security in the region is important and some countries partially rely on the US. But some countries are afraid of alienating Tehran. The U.S. is concerned about Qatar, where the US maintains its largest military base in the region.
One US official says Washington has been seeking explanations from the Qatari government about recent decisions at the UN and the Arab League that have appeared more supportive of Iran’s regional interests rather than those of the pro-western Arab states.Arab regimes, meanwhile, have been pleading with Washington to press for progress on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, hoping moves towards the creation of a viable Palestinian state will help tip the strategic balance in the region back in their favour. (more)
Kuwait may be another country having to make some relationship decisions. How soon we forget that the U.S. saved their country from Saddam. Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah 'congratulated the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution as well as the Iranian government on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Adha' and 'said that further strengthening of relations among regional states will prepare the ground for promotion of peace and tranquility in the Middle East.' (IRNA)
Could be that is just political talk from the Kuwaiti Emir. As for Ahmadinejad, 'on his part President Ahmadinejad also felicitated the all world Muslims, including Kuwaiti people, on the occasion.'
Felicitations to you, Ahmadinejad, on the lousy results on your latest Iranian elections. Could your fellow citizens be sending you a message?
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