The United States has been disseminating lies to depict Iran as a major threat and encouraging Arab states to form an alliance against the country with the aim of gaining a stronger foothold in the Middle East, a lawmaker said.
“Some oil-rich and wealthy Persian Gulf Arab countries have joined the wave of Iranophobia initiated by the United States and other arrogant powers, and their policies and future plans are being determined by America as a result," Shahrouz Barzegar, a member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said in remarks published by ICANA on Tuesday.
His comments came as Washington is seeking to forge unity among Persian Gulf Arab states to contain Iran’s influence in the region.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently met with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Khalid Al Attiyah in Washington to discuss US President Donald Trump’s strategy to confront Iran by forging Arab allies into a US-backed security alliance, known as the Middle East Strategic Alliance or the Arab NATO, according to a statement issued by the US Department of State.
Persian Gulf Arab unity, which Washington considers a bulwark against Iran, was shattered when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed trade and transport ties with Qatar in June 2017 over its close ties with Iran and alleged support for terrorism—a charge Doha denies.
The plan faces fresh complications after the murder of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
A summit meeting in the United States where Trump and the Arab leaders would sign a preliminary accord on the alliance was expected in January. But three US sources and a Persian Gulf diplomat have told Reuters that the meeting now looks uncertain. It has already been postponed several times, they added.
Pursuit of Peace
Barzegar said Iran has always pursued a policy of peace despite US claims and has always tried to avoid tension with other countries.
“Iran supports lasting security in neighboring and regional states, and has been seeking to live peacefully with its neighbors. However, Arab countries have given in to US demands,” he said.
The parliamentarian noted that Muslim nations should stay vigilant because the current status quo is not in the interest of the region.
"Regional security and stability can be preserved only if American influence is minimized," he said, calling on Islamic bodies such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to help bring Muslim nations closer.
Barzegar believes that many countries have now gained a better understanding of the nature of US policies and this opportunity should be seized by the diplomatic apparatus to present a true image of the Islamic Republic.
“Iranian diplomats should dispel false claims against the country in their bilateral meetings with officials from Persian Gulf states and use diplomatic channels to counter the United States,” he said.
