The statements and actions of Iranian clerics and political figures continue to escalate tensions with Gulf States. This has been followed by President Ahmadinejad visiting one of the Emirate Islands which Iran has occupied, further straining these already fragile relationships.
But why is Iran behaving like this? Especially at a time when it is under international pressure and its enemies are numerous! Would it not at the very least not want to antagonise what could be neutral elements in its “cold war” with its traditional enemies?
The current Iranian regime, in attempt to unify its divided people and assert its grip on power, is creating the impression that the Shia population is a target, and is continuously marginalised in the Arab world. This would also explain Iran’s support of the Syrian regime during the uprising and the explicit antagonising of the Bahraini regime – Iran was the first to give the Bahraini uprising a religious cover and is continuing to capitalise on any delay of consensus.
If this is the Iranian regime’s response to tight times, what kind of behaviour should we expect when the regime is more relaxed, and if it reaches a consensus with western states guaranteeing its strength and increasing its power?
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