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.