Iran Goes to War Against the Arabs

"All these countries, with the possible exception of the U.A.E., have been at various times torn about whether to treat Iran like a bad neighbor who must be tolerated, or a bad neighbor whose house needs to be burned down with the neighbor in it. This morning, after the attacks, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry issued a statement condemning Iran's "cowardly" attacks, and noting that the attacks had come even though Saudi Arabia had declined to let its airspace be used in an operation against Iran."

"Together they leave little doubt that the countries have moved away from the camp of "strongly worded letter to the homeowners' association" and toward the camp of arson. These countries once wondered whether Iran could be appeased and contained. Now they do not."

"The Saudis in particular have viewed the Iranian regime as a menace that must be abided. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in his 2022 interview with me, made clear that he viewed other Arab Gulf states as family, and that families fight but eventually make up. Iran was in a different category."

Iran conducted missile strikes against multiple Gulf Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, targeting areas hosting American military bases and strategic interests. This represents a new phase of regional conflict, distinct from previous Iran-Israel exchanges. The targeted countries responded with strong condemnations, with Saudi Arabia emphasizing the attacks were unjustified despite declining to participate in operations against Iran. These responses indicate a fundamental shift in regional attitudes, moving away from strategies of tolerance and containment toward more confrontational positions. Gulf states have historically debated whether to treat Iran as a difficult neighbor requiring accommodation or as an existential threat requiring decisive action. The attacks appear to have resolved this debate in favor of the latter perspective.

Read at The Atlantic