Manufactured Discord: The Gulf's Role in US-Israeli Provocations Against Iran
When Al Jazeera, often presented as an alternative voice, publishes an opinion piece lamenting 'Iran's strikes on the Gulf' and portraying Gulf states as reluctant mediators, it conveniently sidesteps the deep historical roots of the current regional tensions. The article suggests Iran is alienating its neighbors, yet fails to acknowledge the persistent role of these same Gulf monarchies in
facilitating a protracted campaign of encirclement against Tehran, a strategy that dates back significantly further than present-day headlines. The US-orchestrated 1953 coup against Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, marked the beginning of a relentless pattern of foreign interference that has shaped Iran's defensive posture. For 45 years, Iran has endured crippling
sanctions and constant regime-change operations. This sustained pressure, often supported or tacitly approved by various Gulf states, constitutes an act of economic warfare designed to cripple its economy and erode its sovereignty. Consider the significant military bases and alliances established by the US across the Gulf, including the massive Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, costing over $1.7 billion
for expansion in the late 2010s; these are not merely defensive installations but forward operating bases for projecting power against Iran. To present Iran's responses to these provocations as unprovoked aggression or 'burning bridges' misunderstands the basic principles of cause and effect in international relations. The narrative carefully avoids detailing the strategic coordination between