Iran is essentially clearing the region of elements that constantly generate tension, according to political analyst Grigor Balasanyan.
The region is tired of the United States
According to him, the region has grown weary of the U.S. presence, as it is neither truly allied nor cost-effective. “On the one hand, they pay trillions of dollars to the United States supposedly for their security; on the other, they must explain to their citizens why enormous funds are spent on intercepting missiles heading toward Israel over their own territories,” he said. He added that authorities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain have so far failed to provide convincing answers to these questions.
Israel’s security funded by Arab money
Balasanyan argues that Arab countries are beginning to realize that despite years of payments, they have not received real security guarantees from the U.S., but have effectively contributed to Israel’s security while bearing the negative consequences. “In essence, Israel has ensured its security at the expense of Arab funds. This is a kind of masterclass in politics, from which we should also learn,” he noted.
A death that united the Islamic world
The assassination of the ayatollah, the expert believes, became a “gift” for Iran, as it helped unify the Muslim world. He pointed out that this time the U.S. failed to exploit Sunni-Shia divisions. Even prominent Sunni preachers in countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with audiences of millions, expressed outrage over the killing. Moreover, even in Middle Eastern countries targeted by Iran, citizens are not demanding military action against the Islamic Republic.
Against this backdrop, Iran is attempting to revive the spirit that existed in the Arab world in the 1960s and 1970s. “Arabs are once again beginning to feel capable of confronting Israel. Hezbollah, through its actions, is on par with the Iranian army and is delivering painful strikes even to central Tel Aviv,” he said.
The Turkey factor and the Kurdish issue
However, Iran’s policy is not limited to the Arab world. The analyst noted that Iran’s actions help explain the restrained stance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to him, Turkey could have been the next target if the “Kurdish card” had been played again through ground operations.
Balasanyan claims that Iran is currently targeting the headquarters of various Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, which have long cooperated with Israel and the United States, including via consular structures in Erbil. These forces, he added, also played a role in recent unrest within Iran.
In conclusion, Balasanyan stated that Iran is continuing its “major cleanup,” aiming to eliminate sources of instability in the region. “Now it is their turn to act, and sooner or later the United States will have to come to terms with this,” he concluded.