Iran’s own goal: How Tehran lost the Gulf

A famous proverb states: “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

This can today be applied to Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, who on Sunday addressed the countries of the region in a post on X, saying: “We do not believe in, nor do we intend, to attack you. However, when the bases located in your countries are used against us, and when the United States relies on these forces to carry out operations in the region, then we will target those bases.”

This suggests that Larijani is either detached from the reality of the crimes committed by his government’s forces or he is so delusional that he mistook five-star hotels in Dubai — where there are no US bases — for American or Israeli five-star generals when wondering who to retaliate against.

Iran has unfortunately lost any sympathy or solidarity it could have garnered through its indiscriminate response to the weekend’s attacks carried out by Israel and the US.

Even Tehran’s closest regional friends, the Omanis, who until a few days ago were negotiating on its behalf and trying to spare it a fatal blow, were attacked by Iran — needless to say, Oman also does not have a US military base. This is a serious escalation that undermines the role of mediators worldwide. The unjustifiable Iranian attack on Oman is no less horrendous than the Israeli attack on Qatar last summer, when Doha was also trying to help as it hosted negotiations with Hamas to try to end the war in Gaza.

Tehran’s escalation does nothing but confirm the fears of those that see Iran as the main source of danger to the region. 

Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief

As for Saudi Arabia, Tehran seems to not care that Riyadh respected and continues to respect the Beijing Declaration of 2023  — by refusing to allow its ground or airspace to be used to attack Iran. Needless to say, unlike what has been propagated, there are also no American military bases in the Kingdom. Yet all of that seems to fall on deaf ears.

As such, it is fully understandable that the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement clearly said the Kingdom will resort to any measure to protect its people, including the option of retaliating against the aggression. A sentiment that has now echoed across many Gulf capitals.

It is a shame that it had to come to this, after we all believed that the Kingdom and Iran could have worked together to stabilize the region. All hopes are that Iran will come to its senses and distinguish its friends from its foes.

Yet, until now, all that can be said is that this indiscriminate Iranian aggression against Gulf countries is a major own goal, resulting only in the increased isolation of Tehran at a critical moment. Tehran’s escalation does nothing but confirm the fears of those that see Iran as the main source of danger to the region and its missile program as a permanent symbol of instability.

Even Tehran’s closest regional friends, the Omanis, who until a few days ago were negotiating on its behalf and trying to spare it a fatal blow, were attacked by Iran.

Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief

As for the protests within Iran, while many may fully sympathize with the Iranian people and the dire conditions they live in, Riyadh has made it clear that — unlike what Tehran has done in the past when it came to the internal affairs of neighboring countries — this is a matter that must be resolved among Iranians themselves.

Now, was the US correct to attack Iran when the Omanis were very hopeful of the outcomes of the negotiations? Time will tell. Can Israel be trusted as a partner in this war? Well, we all know that this current Israeli government has its own agenda. It has proven, time after time, that it has no issue setting the region on fire. And time after time, Benjamin Netanyahu finds ways to escape accountability and trials in many cases, from corruption accusations to the failure of the Israeli security forces on Oct. 7.

What I do know is that war is not in Saudi Arabia’s interest — or that of any of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries — and we believe it is not in America’s interest or the global interest to allow the destabilization of the flourishing region that is the Gulf.

I am not only talking about global aviation or maritime and energy security. I am talking about the peaceful and prosperous model of Riyadh, Dubai, Doha and other Gulf capitals that should be protected and replicated around the region.

Needless to say, these are all US allies, some with “major non-NATO ally” status, and Gulf governments have every right to protect themselves, as it remains a government’s first duty to do all that it takes to protect its people, especially against any unprovoked aggression.

• Faisal J. Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas