Iran and the Arabs
Numerous threats by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran to destroy Israel have aroused massive concern both in Israel and the US in recent years, but now many Arab states are just as worried about Iran.
On the surface, all Arab nations (except Morocco) maintain friendly relations with the Islamic Republic; Iran is welcome to send observers to meetings of the Arab League, Arab countries sell refined oil to Iran and allow Iranian financial institutions to operate.
At the same time, George Mitchell (President Obama's emissary to the Middle East) reported that "the Iran threat (was mentioned) during every conversation he had with Arab officials." (1) Here is a look at Iranian moves in key Arab countries:
Iraq: Iran has a close relationship with the Shia-affiliated leadership of Iraq, despite reports of arming insurgent groups. Iranian influence is bound to grow after the US pulls out its combat forces over the next two years. Moqtada Al Sadr, leader of the Shiite militia, is Tehran's man in Iraq.
Lebanon: Hizbollah, the Shiite militia that also is part of Lebanon's government, is armed and financed by Iran. The militia is also an agent of Syrian influence in Beirut.
Syria: Although allied with Iran, Syria has been participating in Turkish-mediated negotiations with Israel, in defiance of Iranian policy. Syria has also been seeking a better relationship with the US, which would mean distancing Damascus from Tehran. Meanwhile, Syria is still a conduit for arms and ammunition from Iran to Hizbollah forces in Lebanon.
Hamas and Fatah: Supreme Iranian Leader Ali Khameini has proclaimed Hamas " the legitimate government of Palestine." (1) This is not mere lip service; Iran provides arms and money to Hamas, which shares Iran's determination to destroy Israel.
Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas has urged Iran to "stop meddling in Palestinian affairs."
Iran's unwavering support for war against Israel is enormously popular in the Arab world, so there is no chance that Iran would support a peace deal between the Jewish state and the Palestinians. But without Iran's OK, Hamas would not agree to a settlement. Without Hamas, Abbas could not make peace without being denounced as a traitor to the Arab cause. That is why there will be no peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Egypt: President Mubarak has warned that "The Persians are trying to devour the Arab states....Egypt shares a border with Iran (Gaza)." (1) As the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel, Egypt is a prime target for Iranian propaganda. Hamas grew out of the Egyptian sect known as the Muslim Brotherhood, which is viewed as a threat to the current regime. Right now, the Egyptian military is the bulwark against the Islamist threat, which Tehran supports.
Saudi Arabia: Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has called for the Arab world to "come up with a strategy for dealing with the Iranian challenge." The zealous Sunni monarchy governs a substantial Shiite minority, possibly forty percent of the population, in the eastern part of the kingdom. A leading Saudi politician claimed that Iran was actively recruiting citizens of Gulf states to work for its interests. (1)
Although Iran has been busy buying and developing state-of-the-art missiles and other weapons systems, and is enriching uranium out of the sight of international inspectors, the main threat to Muslim states from Iran is not war, but subversion. By arming and financing fanatical Islamist groups in Arab countries, Iran is acquiring powerful allies inside these states. The question is what, if anything, will the Arab world do in response to this effort?
So far, the answer seems to be "not much."
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(1) AIPAC Near East Report, March 24, 2009.
On the surface, all Arab nations (except Morocco) maintain friendly relations with the Islamic Republic; Iran is welcome to send observers to meetings of the Arab League, Arab countries sell refined oil to Iran and allow Iranian financial institutions to operate.
At the same time, George Mitchell (President Obama's emissary to the Middle East) reported that "the Iran threat (was mentioned) during every conversation he had with Arab officials." (1) Here is a look at Iranian moves in key Arab countries:
Iraq: Iran has a close relationship with the Shia-affiliated leadership of Iraq, despite reports of arming insurgent groups. Iranian influence is bound to grow after the US pulls out its combat forces over the next two years. Moqtada Al Sadr, leader of the Shiite militia, is Tehran's man in Iraq.
Lebanon: Hizbollah, the Shiite militia that also is part of Lebanon's government, is armed and financed by Iran. The militia is also an agent of Syrian influence in Beirut.
Syria: Although allied with Iran, Syria has been participating in Turkish-mediated negotiations with Israel, in defiance of Iranian policy. Syria has also been seeking a better relationship with the US, which would mean distancing Damascus from Tehran. Meanwhile, Syria is still a conduit for arms and ammunition from Iran to Hizbollah forces in Lebanon.
Hamas and Fatah: Supreme Iranian Leader Ali Khameini has proclaimed Hamas " the legitimate government of Palestine." (1) This is not mere lip service; Iran provides arms and money to Hamas, which shares Iran's determination to destroy Israel.
Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas has urged Iran to "stop meddling in Palestinian affairs."
Iran's unwavering support for war against Israel is enormously popular in the Arab world, so there is no chance that Iran would support a peace deal between the Jewish state and the Palestinians. But without Iran's OK, Hamas would not agree to a settlement. Without Hamas, Abbas could not make peace without being denounced as a traitor to the Arab cause. That is why there will be no peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Egypt: President Mubarak has warned that "The Persians are trying to devour the Arab states....Egypt shares a border with Iran (Gaza)." (1) As the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel, Egypt is a prime target for Iranian propaganda. Hamas grew out of the Egyptian sect known as the Muslim Brotherhood, which is viewed as a threat to the current regime. Right now, the Egyptian military is the bulwark against the Islamist threat, which Tehran supports.
Saudi Arabia: Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has called for the Arab world to "come up with a strategy for dealing with the Iranian challenge." The zealous Sunni monarchy governs a substantial Shiite minority, possibly forty percent of the population, in the eastern part of the kingdom. A leading Saudi politician claimed that Iran was actively recruiting citizens of Gulf states to work for its interests. (1)
Although Iran has been busy buying and developing state-of-the-art missiles and other weapons systems, and is enriching uranium out of the sight of international inspectors, the main threat to Muslim states from Iran is not war, but subversion. By arming and financing fanatical Islamist groups in Arab countries, Iran is acquiring powerful allies inside these states. The question is what, if anything, will the Arab world do in response to this effort?
So far, the answer seems to be "not much."
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(1) AIPAC Near East Report, March 24, 2009.
posted by Gerald S Glazer at 9:54 AM
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