Maarkhoor
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Arab-Iran growing tensions: Possible solution?
Before I discuss Arab-Iran growing tensions: Possible solution? We need to know the historic
View of Arab-Iran relations.
By not going far I will start it from Iranian Revolution:
Iranian revolution is not just a political but a religious revolution which entirely changes Iranian attitude and relations
With rest of the world especially with Arabs (Who are mostly Sunnis and ruled by kings and dictators)
Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its first Supreme Leader declared that, "The concept of monarchy totally contradicts Islam." Therefore, Arab leaders developed a hostile attitude towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini's idea of supporting the mustazafeen (those who are wronged or oppressed) as opposed to the mustakbareen (those who are arrogant) led to many problems with neighboring countries due to some Arab regimes being judged by Iranian jurists to be among the mustakbareen. Ayatollah Khomeini was open about his intention to export the revolution to other parts of the Muslim world. Thus, during the early 1980s, Iran was isolated regionally and internationally. This diplomatic and economic isolation intensified during the Iran–Iraq War in which almost all neighboring Arab states, except Syria, supported Iraq logistically and economically. According to some observers, Saddam Hussein fought on behalf of other Arab states that viewed Iran as a potential threat to their stability.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the revolutionary zeal cooled and a degree of pragmatism was adopted by Iranian policy makers. During the presidency of Akbar Hashemi and Mohammad Khatami, Iranian foreign policy switched to reducing international tensions and Iran tried to normalize its relations with its Arab neighbors. When the United States attacked Iraq in the early 1990s, it unintentionally promoted Iran's political influence in the Middle East.
Since 2000 the situation changed completely. The most significant factor was Bush administration's decision to attack Iraq in 2003 which led to the fall of Saddam, a ba'athist leader with pan-Arab sympathies who was determined to balance Shi'a Iran's regional influence. With the deposition of Saddam, Iran found a major obstacle to its expansion removed. This gave Iran a good chance to emerge as a major player in the Middle East. As Richard Haass quoted Iran will be one of the two most powerful states in the region...The influence of Iran and groups associated with it has been reinforced. Iran could find allies in Arab world comprising Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and United Arab Emirates united against Iran, with support from the United States. Other Arab countries continued to have normal relations with Iran.
(Source Wikipedia)
The Sectarianism and Arab-Iran Relations:
As I mentioned above most of the Arab countries and ruled by Sunni Kings and dictators and growing Shia influence because of Iranian revolution they not only feel fear for their rule but also taking it as a potential danger for their Sunni majority population. They try hard to nullify the effect of Iranian revolution by blocking their relationship with Iran on most of the fronts.
A big blow to the relation with Arabs (Sunni Muslims) happens when Iranian backed pilgrimages created riots and try to seize the control of grand mosque in 1987 even Saudi Authorities claims to recover explosives from the Iranian pilgrimages. By not going it further as a result Iran was not only condemned but Saudi put ban on Iranian for Hajj but later lifted in 1991.
Before I discuss Arab-Iran growing tensions: Possible solution? We need to know the historic
View of Arab-Iran relations.
By not going far I will start it from Iranian Revolution:
Iranian revolution is not just a political but a religious revolution which entirely changes Iranian attitude and relations
With rest of the world especially with Arabs (Who are mostly Sunnis and ruled by kings and dictators)
Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its first Supreme Leader declared that, "The concept of monarchy totally contradicts Islam." Therefore, Arab leaders developed a hostile attitude towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini's idea of supporting the mustazafeen (those who are wronged or oppressed) as opposed to the mustakbareen (those who are arrogant) led to many problems with neighboring countries due to some Arab regimes being judged by Iranian jurists to be among the mustakbareen. Ayatollah Khomeini was open about his intention to export the revolution to other parts of the Muslim world. Thus, during the early 1980s, Iran was isolated regionally and internationally. This diplomatic and economic isolation intensified during the Iran–Iraq War in which almost all neighboring Arab states, except Syria, supported Iraq logistically and economically. According to some observers, Saddam Hussein fought on behalf of other Arab states that viewed Iran as a potential threat to their stability.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the revolutionary zeal cooled and a degree of pragmatism was adopted by Iranian policy makers. During the presidency of Akbar Hashemi and Mohammad Khatami, Iranian foreign policy switched to reducing international tensions and Iran tried to normalize its relations with its Arab neighbors. When the United States attacked Iraq in the early 1990s, it unintentionally promoted Iran's political influence in the Middle East.
Since 2000 the situation changed completely. The most significant factor was Bush administration's decision to attack Iraq in 2003 which led to the fall of Saddam, a ba'athist leader with pan-Arab sympathies who was determined to balance Shi'a Iran's regional influence. With the deposition of Saddam, Iran found a major obstacle to its expansion removed. This gave Iran a good chance to emerge as a major player in the Middle East. As Richard Haass quoted Iran will be one of the two most powerful states in the region...The influence of Iran and groups associated with it has been reinforced. Iran could find allies in Arab world comprising Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and United Arab Emirates united against Iran, with support from the United States. Other Arab countries continued to have normal relations with Iran.
(Source Wikipedia)
The Sectarianism and Arab-Iran Relations:
As I mentioned above most of the Arab countries and ruled by Sunni Kings and dictators and growing Shia influence because of Iranian revolution they not only feel fear for their rule but also taking it as a potential danger for their Sunni majority population. They try hard to nullify the effect of Iranian revolution by blocking their relationship with Iran on most of the fronts.
A big blow to the relation with Arabs (Sunni Muslims) happens when Iranian backed pilgrimages created riots and try to seize the control of grand mosque in 1987 even Saudi Authorities claims to recover explosives from the Iranian pilgrimages. By not going it further as a result Iran was not only condemned but Saudi put ban on Iranian for Hajj but later lifted in 1991.
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