Indisputably, the main factor of recent tensions in the Middle East should be sought in the intervening hands of foreign powers that have long destabilized the region and inflamed the bursts of conflict between the Muslim countries.
In addition to the illegitimate and catastrophic invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq which has caused a tragic rate of 3 million civilian casualties, the ardent and fervent lobbying of western powers who seek the demonization of Iran for its neighboring Arab partners may well be named another disastrous project which the US and its European allies have been getting done in the past years.
At the outset, the American leaders used to recognize the sensitivities of both Iranian and Arab nations perspicaciously, so that they could initiate a seditious project of arousing clash and controversy among them. They subsequently, set off their plan with a few green lights to the Arab leaders who were doubtful about undermining and threatening their Iran-related interests by engaging in the war-game.
Everything started with the publication of National Geographic’s 2001 edition, where the term "Arabian Gulf" where put in the parenthesis beneath the name of Persian Gulf on the map; however, "Arabian Gulf" was not the whole story. National Geographic’s other recipe for the Iranians was the eccentric pretension over the islands of Abu Musa, Lesser and Greater Tunbs where the statement of "occupied by Iran since 1903" had been put in the parenthesis next to the name of Islands on the map.
The outlandish and unprecedented action of American magazine outraged Iranians as well as the historians, archaeologists and cartographers worldwide, who had not experienced such a name distortion in a western publication until that time.
The American journal called its reputation and authenticity into question, and many organizations, as well as the Iranian government, boycotted it thereafter. However, the state-run publication was not dissatisfied with the results as it had done well regarding the mission.
The attraction of media, organizations and leaders in Arab countries started to be drew toward the new perspectives slowly but surely; an Arabian identity for the geo-strategic water body of Persian Gulf which the was known as a passageway of world’s 50 percent of crude oil consignment.
The Arabian newspapers and TV channels then used to practice the replacement of Arabian Gulf instead of Persian Gulf in their news, commentaries and footages, and the territorial claims over the triple islands of Iran soon become a catchphrase of Arab leaders who did feel good about the possession of new lands after decades.
Compromise and finding the middle ground, however, was the sole policy of Iran against the tough rhetoric of Arab leaders, and in the midst of national irate calls for a collective sanction of UAE and the ejection of Emirate envoy from Tehran.
Following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and even in the tormenting years of Iraqi-imposed war on Iran (1980-1988), the Islamic Republic did not lose even one inch of its soil, despite being faced not only with Iraq, but also with all the foremost military superpowers of that time, US, UK, Netherlands, Italy, Soviet Union and France who backed Saddam with the most enhanced armories and weaponries.
So, the American think thank and information clearing houses, who proposed the idea of territorial confrontation with Iran via UAE and the motivations of its people, knew well that they are going to mount a "play with lion’s tail"; nevertheless, they did not conclude the quarrel to the very phase.
Fingerprinting the Iranian passengers and corporal punishment of Iranians arriving in Dubai airport was the next division of anti-Iranian projects held by the US in Middle East. Fingerprinting of the Iranians which was first "masterminded" by the US airports in 1980s is now being imitated by the Emirates as a sign of disrespect and indicates a powerful influence of US policies in the region.
However, the 3-years long leniency and easygoingness of Iran toward the unconventional rhetoric of UAE, which sees Iran as one of its top 3 trade partners and is considered as the second home of Iranians, ended on Thursday, January 29, following the inattentiveness of Emirati President to the congratulation message of President Ahmadinejad on the occasion of Emirate’s national day.
It’s a prevalent tradition in the global political culture that e.g. a president sends a thanksgiving message to his/her counterpart in lieu of a congratulation message; nonetheless, the strange, meaningful silence of Emirati president maybe was to signify a new era in the mutual relations of Iran and UAE.
This action was responded by the exceptional and matchless speech of Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Dr. Ali Larijani, who strictly warned UAE about its stance, threatened the neighboring country of moving all of the Iranian cashes and investments to Turkey.
Larijani also said that UAE officials should know that Iran is “seriously” observing the rude behaviors and will adopt another approach if they do not rectify their manner.
Prior to the speech by Dr. Larijani, Majlis lawmakers on Tuesday had protested over the Foreign Ministry’s inaction on the UAE’s territorial expansionistic policy.
"Although the UAE was only established less than 40 years ago, it is now citing historical issues", MP Darioush Qanbari had told Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday, protesting the passive stance against the Emirati government.
However, the sheer winner of this artificial conflict will be the US, benefiting from the consistencies in the Middle East and the separation of the two oil, gas rich states from each other.
It would be in the interest of UAE to halt it hostile stance toward Iran, respect the historical background of the country and maintain its friendly ties with the Islamic Republic regardless to the conspiracies of foreign hands who are tending to muddle the cordial, long-standing relations of the two neighbors.
Kourosh Ziabari*
kziyabari@guilan.ac.ir
*Kourosh Ziabari is a young Iranian journalist, media correspondent and the author of book 7+1 which is a collection of his interviews with the contemporary pundits of Persian literature.
His articles and pieces have so far been published in the magazines and news websites of Canada, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and UK.
Turkey-Japan Relations: The Need toThink Beyond Trade
