By Taghreed Saadeh
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the debate over Iran’s role in the Arab region is gaining prominence, raising the question of whether this role is genuinely linked to the Palestinian cause, or if it extends to a broader regional influence agenda.
Political and media discourse has long promoted the idea that the conflict with Israel is the central driver of Iran’s actions in the region. However, a deeper look at the situation reveals that this explanation is not entirely accurate. While slogans such as “Liberate Palestine” and “Death to Israel” are widely circulated, available data indicates that the majority of Iranian missile and drone attacks since the beginning of the war have targeted Gulf countries and Jordan, while a much smaller percentage, around 17% actually targeted Israel. This discrepancy raises legitimate questions about Iran’s real priorities and who it is truly waging war against.
If the declared goal is to confront Israel, why isn’t it the main arena for these operations? And why are Arab countries that are not direct parties to the conflict bearing the brunt of the consequences, despite having openly opposed this war?
Many political analysts and researchers argue that the openly declared hostility between Iran and Gulf countries or Jordan is not genuinely about Israel, as Tehran claims, but fundamentally about influence and regional expansion. Tensions with countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain reflect a long-standing struggle among neighboring states.
In response, Gulf countries have pursued a policy based on good neighborliness, focusing on development and internal stability as strategic priorities. However, this approach has not eliminated tensions; rather, it is perceived by the Iranian regime as a factor that threatens its interests, amid repeated accusations of seeking to undermine the stability of these countries through sleeper cells, which are occasionally exposed.
Undoubtedly, the Palestinian cause remains central in Arab consciousness, and supporting Palestinian rights represents a principled stance for all Arab states, including those in the Gulf. The issue lies in Iran’s use of this cause to position itself differently from other Arab countries, promoting what it calls the “Resistance Axis” as the path to liberating Palestine.
Experience on the ground whether through Hamas in Gaza after October 7, or Hezbollah in Lebanon has shown that such actions escalate confrontations and bring severe security repercussions, including the evacuation of entire areas. Iran’s involvement in Iraq and Yemen further reflects a pattern seen as expanding its regional influence rather than achieving the stated objectives.
Another challenge lies in how information is received by the Arab public. The absence of accurate data and the prevalence of emotional rhetoric can lead some to adopt positions based on slogans rather than a realistic reading of events. This highlights the importance of political awareness in distinguishing between supporting just causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause, and the exploitation of these causes in conflicts that do not serve them but are instead used to build a popular base for regional influence, at the expense of Arab stability and a unified Arab stance.
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