Iran is trying to generate turmoil on the Gulf arena in order to undermine stability in the Gulf and the region. In the meantime, the Arab Gulf states are rushing to draft statements of condemnation and talking about the bad intentions in a narrative way, without adopting palpable and efficient steps that would contain the Iranian provocations and political violations affecting their countries and their affairs, and impacting the security and stability of their populations. The Iranian political behavior towards the Gulf states seems provocative, but these countries are intentionally disregarding Tehran's violations, as though caving in to them, due to reasons which might include the wish to maintain their countries' stability and uphold the memory of good neighborly relations with the Iranian people, and not that of war. The tense and hostile Iranian political tone has not stopped ever since Ahmadinejad assumed the Iranian presidency, through his insistence on provoking feelings, fueling anger and summoning sectarianism and factionalism with the help of religious models from both ends. On the other hand, statements have been exchanged between the West and Iran, hinting that certain plots being concocted in the West are not yet ready; plots possibly involved a war in the region with Turkey's participation. This is especially due to the fact that the sanctions imposed on Iran in their current form have failed to achieve their goals, i.e. cause Iran to back down on its nuclear program, which prompted French President Nicolas Sarkozy to hold Tehran responsible – in previous statements - for the eruption of any military action against it, calling on Turkish President Abdullah Gul to urge his country's army to be militarily prepared for any war on Iran. Iran does not care about what is issued by the Gulf States. For example, around 16 days after the Strategic Cooperation Forum recently held between the Gulf States and America in Riyadh announced the formation of a committee to look into the establishment of missile shields in the Gulf, Iranian President Ahmadinejad conducted a visit to the Emirati Abu Musa Island, which is occupied by his country. This revealed a clear Iranian defiance of any Gulf-American understandings on one hand, and an attempt to shift the attention away from the situation in Syria, alleviate the international pressures on his ally Bashar al-Assad and revive the Gulf concerns toward Abu Musa. Moreover, Ahmadinejad is trying to export his country's domestic crises abroad, through the provocation of a diplomatic confrontation. Ahmadinejad is arrogant when talking about the Arab Gulf states, considering that “all the historical documents confirm the existence of the designation “Persian Gulf”. Therefore, all those who call it by any other name should realize with which great and powerful state they are dealing.” He also indicated that the states trying to confiscate its name did not enjoy the necessary culture and civilization to confront Iran. By saying so, he is not only provoking the Gulf States, but also belittling them in order to engage in confrontations and skirmishes that would divert attention away from the domestic situation and ignite the internal crises to Abu Musa! Ahmadinejad is considered to be the first Iranian president to visit UAE's Abu Musa Island, which his country has been occupying along with the Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb islands since the withdrawal of the British troops from the Gulf in 1971. Until this moment, the Emirati reaction has been very restrained, emulating the abstinence of the GCC states from adopting any palpable measures that would tighten the noose around Iran and confirm the Arab identity of the Emirati islands, something that is expected to be stressed during tomorrow's meeting in Doha. I believe that the reaction should surpass the summoning of the Emirati ambassador to Tehran, since such a “painful” solution will not stop the Iranian violations of the islands sovereignty. At this level, I do not know why the Gulf States are trying to escape forward when dealing with whichever Iranian practice. This can be seen in the last statement of the GCC secretary general, which contained nothing but expressions of disgruntlement and condemnation, at a time when Tehran's position can be considered strong, after Ahmadinejad affirmed that his country will not back down on its rights. Gulf leaders would be mistaken if they abstain from harshly responding to any Iranian violation of their countries' sovereignty or interference in their affairs. They would also be mistaken if they believe that the West will support them before achieving its own goals, and this can clearly be detected in the Western diplomatic attempts to reach a deal with Tehran over its nuclear program and its oil, but also read between the lines of the British Financial Times' recent report which confirmed Iran's attempts to maneuver around the American and European sanctions, by offering facilitations for the purchasing of its oil amid Western accommodation. What is certain is that Ahmadinejad's visit does not only constitute a provocation to the Gulf states, but also a blatant violation of the sovereignty of a GCC member state and a step which will ignite flames, as it goes against the policy of good neighborly relations and disregards the peaceful efforts sought by the Gulf states in each ordinary, consultative or extraordinary summit. Moreover, Ahmadinejad's visit exposes the false Iranian claims regarding the wish to establish positive relations with the neighboring states. Should the Gulf States not summon their ambassadors all at the same time? Should they not express their anger with a stronger voice to convey the extent of the cohesion, firmness and unity of these countries that are calling for a federal union while still unable to adopt a unified step, by summoning the ambassadors and threatening to sever the economic and commercial ties to contain the Iranian actions and violation of the sovereignty of Gulf states? Can they not even show their fangs and ignite the issue of the Ahwaz population which has been enduring official Iranian persecution?
