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 Arab League |  Iran |
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The dynamic between theLeague of Arab States and theIslamic Republic of Iran has been ambivalent, owing to the latter's varying bilateral conduct with each country of the former. Iran is located on the easternmost frontier of the Arab League, which consists of 22Arab countries and spans the bulk of theMiddle East and North Africa, of which Iran is also a part. The Arab League's population is dominated by ethnicArabs, whereas Iran's population is dominated by ethnicPersians; and while both sides haveIslam as a common religion, their sects differ, withSunnis constituting the majority in the Arab League andShias constituting the majority in Iran. Since Iran'sIslamic Revolution in 1979, the country'sShia theocracy has attempted to assert itself as the legitimate religious and political leadership of allMuslims, contesting a status that has generally been understood as belonging to Sunni-majoritySaudi Arabia, where the cities ofMecca andMedina are located. This animosity, manifested in theIran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict, has greatly exacerbated theShia–Sunni divide throughout theMuslim world.[1]
Within theMiddle East, the Arab–Iranian relationship has rotated between peaceful co-existence and open hostility.[2] TheIran–Iraq War remains the most recent instance of a direct armed conflict between an Arab League country and Iran. Some Arab League countries, especially those with Shia-dominated governments, have been perceived as more closely affiliated with Iran than with the Arab League itself. Among other phenomena, this reality has significantly impacted theArab–Israeli conflict in recent years, as the mutual threat presented by Iran toIsrael and many Arab countries has enabled the formation of the so-calledArab–Israeli alliance, which came to fruition in light of the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict and theIran–Israel proxy conflict; many Arab countries have normalized diplomatic ties with Israel in pursuit of regional security against the Iranian government's military and political ambitions, effectively breaking from the long-runningArab League boycott of Israel.
After theIranian Revolution the foreign policy of Iran changed dramatically. In many cases diplomatically inimical Arab nations became more cooperative with Iran, while some formerly supportive nations decreased their support.
Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the revolution, founder of theIslamic Republic of Iran, and its firstSupreme Leader, declared that "The concept ofmonarchy totally contradictsIslam." Therefore,Arab leaders developed a hostile attitude towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini's idea of supporting themustazafeen (those who are wronged or oppressed) – as opposed to themustakbareen (those who are arrogant) – led to many problems with neighboring countries due to some Arab regimes being judged by Iranian jurists to be among themustakbareen.Ayatollah Khomeini was open about his intention to export the revolution to other parts of the Muslim world.
During the early 1980s, Iran was isolated regionally and internationally. This diplomatic and economic isolation intensified during theIran–Iraq War in which almost all neighboring Arab states, exceptSyria, supportedIraq logistically and economically. According to some observers,Saddam Hussein fought on behalf of other Arab states that viewed Iran as a potential threat to their stability.[3][4]
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the revolutionary zeal cooled, and a degree of pragmatism was adopted by Iranian policymakers.
During the presidency ofAkbar Hashemi andMohammad Khatami, Iranian foreign policy switched to reducing international tensions and Iran tried to normalize its relations with its Arab neighbors. When the United States attacked Iraq in theGulf War of the early 1990s, it unintentionally promoted Iran's political influence in the Middle East.[5]
Since the 2000s, the situation has changed completely. The most significant factor was the United States administration's decision toinvade Iraq in 2003, which led to the fall of Saddam, a Ba'athist Leader with pan-Arab sympathies who was determined to balanceShi'a Iran's regional influence. With the deposition of Saddam,[6][7][8][9] Iran found a major obstacle to its expansion removed. This gave Iran a good chance to emerge as a major player in the Middle East.
AsRichard Haass stated in 2006, "Iran will be one of the two most powerful states in the region. ... The influence of Iran and groups associated with it has been reinforced."[10] Iran could find allies in Arab world comprising Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq. On the other hand,Saudi Arabia,Jordan andUnited Arab Emirates united against Iran, with support from theUnited States. Other Arab countries continued to have normal relations with Iran.[11]
Another aspect of tension between Iran and Arab countries has been sectarianism. During the early days of the Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini endeavored to bridge the gap between Shias and Sunnis by forbidding criticizing the Caliphs who preceded Ali. He also declared it permissible for Shiites to pray behind Sunniimams. However, the influence of Iran on Shiite communities outside its borders and the territorial disputes with Arab neighbors among other issues remain sources of tension in Arab-Iranian relations.[citation needed]
Diplomatic cables leaked In 2010 revealed Arab leaders singled out Iran as the greatest threat to regional stability, yet refuse to speak publicly, telling US diplomats in private, they would face domestic troubles if they were seen as siding with the West against a Muslim country.[12] The cables showed that Saudi Arabia and Bahrain supported a military attack against Iran aimed to stop theIranian nuclear program.[13]
On 4 January 2016, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Iran. Saudi Arabia cited attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran following predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shiite cleric. Bahrain cited Iran's "blatant and dangerous interference" in Bahrain and other Arab countries.[14]
Following theIranian Revolution, in 1981 Algeria's role was instrumental in the release of the US diplomatichostages held in Iran.[15] In 1998, Iran became increasingly critical of Algeria's heavy-handed security forces, especially during several massacres during the Muslim holy month ofRamadan and led efforts to pressure Algeria to act more humanely through the international community.[16] Algeria in turn blamed Iran for the massacre.[17]
After a decade, in early September 2000, diplomatic and trade relations between Algeria and Iran were re-established in a decision made by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and his Algerian counterpartAbdelaziz Bouteflika on the sidelines of theUnited NationsMillennium Summit.[18] The resumption of relations paved the way for number of agreements "on bilateral cooperation in the areas of judicial affairs, finance, industry, and air transport".[19] Relations continued to strengthen rapidly after that to the extent that in 2002 Iranian Defense MinisterAli Shamkhani and Algerian Joint Chief of Staff Muhamed al-Imari Wednesday signed an agreement for military and technical cooperation in Iran.[20] In the recent 2006 UN vote onIran's nuclear program, Algeria abstained from voting.[21]
Iran had a historic claim to Bahrain until March 1970 whenShah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi abandoned the claim as a result of secret Anglo-Iranian negotiations.[22] Following this realignment of policy, the two countries signed a demarcation agreement in 1970.[23]
Following theIranian Revolution, BahrainiShia fundamentalists in 1981 orchestrated afailed coup attempt under the auspices of a front organization, theIslamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain. The coup would have installed aShia cleric exiled in Iran, Hujjat al-Islam Hādī al-Mudarrisī, as supreme leader heading a theocratic government. The Bahraini Government unofficially regarded the coup as Iran attempting to overthrow theirSunni government. Iran denied all knowledge saying the fundamentalists were inspired by the Iranian revolution but had received no support from Iran. Fearful of a recurrence, the episode caused Bahrain to crack down on its Shia population putting thousands into jail and further souring relations with Shia Iran. Recently[when?] the countries are beginning to enjoy closer relations again and have engaged in many joint economic ventures.[24] Iran has been severely critical of Bahrain hosting theUS navy Fifth Fleet within thePersian Gulf.
In August 2015, Bahraini authorities announced arresting of five members of a terrorist group which was linked to at least one bombing attack in Bahrain[25] and was believed to accept aid and training from LebaneseHezbollah and Iran-basedRevolutionary Guards.[26]
On 4 January 2016, Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Iran, citing Iran's "blatant and dangerous interference" in Bahrain and other Arab countries. This directly followed Saudi Arabia's dissolution of diplomatic ties with Iran.[14]
In 2014,AFP reported that the Libyan and Iranian embassies inMoroni,Comoros had problems with registering their claim to the property in the capital Moroni, because Comoros gave the same property to both countries for building their embassies.[27] In January 2016, Comoros recalled their ambassador from Iran in an expression of cooperation and solidarity withSaudi Arabia.[28]Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, one of the former presidents of Comoros was a graduate from the Islamic seminaries atQom,Iran.[29] According to the Tehran-basedTabnak news agency, while Sambi was there, he studied underAyatollah Mesbah Yazdi.[29]
In November 2014, Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani inaugurated new building ofDjibouti Parliament built by Iran.[30] Djibouti cut its diplomatic ties with Iran out of solidarity with Saudi Arabia after Riyadh cut off diplomatic relations with Iran on 3 January 2016.[citation needed]
The countries had previously signed trade agreements to increase trade in 2005. In 2006, while on an official visit to Iran, Djiboutian presidentIsmaïl Omar Guelleh stated that Iran had expressed interest in expanding cooperation on defense issues in the future. In the same year the President also supported Iran's right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.[31]
In 1939, diplomatic relations betweenEgypt andIran were upgraded to ambassadorial level, andYoussef Zulficar Pasha was appointed as Egypt's first ambassador inTehran. In the same year,Princess Fawzia of Egypt, the sister ofKing Farouk I, marriedMohammad Reza Pahlavi, the then crown prince (later Shah) of Iran. The relationship between Iran and Egypt had fallen into open hostility underGamal Abdel Nasser presidency. Following his death in 1970, President Sadat turned this around quickly into an open and cordial friendship. In 1971, Sadat addressed the Iranian parliament in Tehran in fluentPersian, describing the 2500-year-old historic connectivity between the two nations. Overnight, Egypt and Iran were turned from bitter enemies into fast friends. The relationship betweenCairo andTehran became so friendly that theShah of Iran (Persia),Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, called Sadat his "dear brother." After the 1973 war with Israel, Iran assumed a leading role in cleaning up and reactivating the blockedSuez Canal with heavy investment. Iran also facilitated the withdrawal of Israel from the occupiedSinai Peninsula by promising to substitute with free Iranian oil the loss of the oil to the Israelis if they withdrew from the Egyptian oil wells in Western Sinai. All these added more to the personal friendship between Sadat and the Shah of Iran.
Once again, relations between the two countries collapsed with the sudden eruption of theIranian Revolution in Iran in 1978–79. When the Shah fell, Egypt was bound to disapprove of his replacement,Ruhollah Khomeini, who returned the sentiment in full measure. Furthermore, in 1979,Anwar Sadat infuriated the new Iranian government by welcomingMohammad Reza Pahlavi, the exiledShah of Iran, for a short, but indefinite, stay.[32] In 1979, Iran officially cut all ties with Egypt.[33] This move was a response to the 1978Camp David Accords, as well as Egypt's support for Iraq in theIran–Iraq War.[34] In 1981, Iran symbolically dedicated a street toKhaled Islambouli, Sadat's assassin.[34]
While trade relations slowly improved during the 1990s,[34] Khaled al-Islambouli was honored for a second time in 2001 "with a huge new mural" in Tehran.[32] Two years later, in late 2003, Iranian PresidentMohammad Khatami met with the Egyptian PresidentHosni Mubarak in Geneva. Khatami openly invited Mubarak to Iran, but Mubarak refused to make such a trip or normalize relations until all "public tributes" to Islambouli were "erased". In early 2004, Iran agreed to change the offending street name toMuhammad al-Durrah, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy.
In 2010,WikiLeaks leakeddiplomatic cables which revealed that Mubarak expressed animosity toward Iran in private meetings, saying the Iranian leaders are "big, fat liars", and that Iran's backing of terrorism is "well-known".[35] According to one American report, Mubarak views Iran as the primary long-term challenge facing Egypt, and an Egyptian official said that Iran is running agents inside Egypt in an effort to subvert the Egyptian regime.[36]
Hani Suleiman, a political analyst (in a conversation withAl-Masry Al-Youm): The meeting between the presidents of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Egypt, on the sidelines of the Riyadh meeting is considered to be very significant because of some issues, because the mentioned meeting is regarded the first meeting between the heads of these 2 countries after a long time away. Likewise, considering the continuation of the Zionist regime's aggressions, the mentioned meeting has messages for the outside world, particularly America, Israel, and Western countries to strengthen the solidarity and closeness of the regional parties, and it is a danger for the Zionist regime and it takes the affairs out of the control of the United States.[37]
On 17 September 1980, after theIslamic Revolution in Iran settled down, Iraq underSaddam Hussein declared theprevious settlement of border disputes with Iran null and void. Several days later on 22 September, Iraq invaded Iran in theIran–Iraq War. Lasting until 1988, the brutal war killed over one million people and critically soured Arab–Iranian relations. In Iraq, the conflict was continually presented in a historical context as Arab versusPersian. The impact of the war was devastating to relations in the region; general Arab support for Iraq and a fear of Shia Muslims led to many disputes between Iran and the otherPersian Gulf states. The war was a primary cause for the rise ofanti-Arabism within Iran, which had until then been largely insignificant. The war ended with an UN-sponsored cease-fire.
In 1980, Iran cut all ties with Jordan after the outbreak ofIran–Iraq War. Relations between the two nations resumed in 1991. In September 2000,King Abdullah met with Iranian PresidentMohammad Khatami on the sidelines of theMillennium Summit in New York.[38] Shortly thereafter, trade between Jordan and Iran increased dramatically. According to figures from Jordan's Central Bank, "trade between Jordan and Iran reached $20 million in 2001, up some 46 percent on the previous year's $13.7 million."[39]
On 2 and 3 September 2003, King Abdullah II visited Tehran, making him the first Jordanian king to visit "Tehran since the launching of the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979".[40]
Kuwait and Iran share closediplomatic, economic, andmilitary ties, which is unusual for a Sunni Arab state and even more unusual for a U.S. ally even if it is sporadic. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Kuwaiti Prime Minister thenSabah Al-Sabah (the future Emir of Kuwait) visited Iran and congratulated the Iranian Revolution. However, this quickly turned sour when Kuwait supported Iraq on itswar against Iran, and there had been no official relations between Kuwait and Iran for nearly 10 years after it started to fear about the threat from the legacy of the Iranian Revolution.
In 1990, following theGulf War, Iraqi–Kuwaiti relations suffered bitterly and consequently Kuwaiti–Iranian relations began to greatly improve and flourish. Bilateral relations were gradually strengthened, partly because Iran and Kuwait were both invaded byIraq and with exchanges of Iranian and Kuwaiti political and economic delegations leading to the signing of several economic and trade agreements. In February 2006, Iranian PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Kuwait opening a new chapter in relations between the two countries. The well-reported visit was the first to Kuwait by a high-ranking Iranian official in 27 years.[41]
Iran has close ties with Lebanon and considers it an ally. Iran also has close ties with the Lebanese political partyHezbollah and its militia force[42] to whom it reportedly provides as much as $100 million in supplies and weaponry per year.[43] Iran has been a staunch supporter of both Lebanon and Hezbollah against Israel.
The official Lebanese government has several agreements with the Iranian government, which includes energy cooperation. The foreign ministers of Iraq, Lebanon and Syria supported Iran's nuclear work, calling for Israel to be stripped ofits nuclear arsenal. Israel is believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear weapons arsenal. Like Lebanon, Iran refuses to recognize Israel.[44]
Following American threats to cut off funding for theLebanese Army should it not be verified that Hezbollah would be kept from getting access to it, Lebanon's then Defense MinisterElias Murr set up a fund to ask for donations to the armed forces. A few weeks later, Lebanese presidentMichel Suleiman asked Iran to consider selling advanced military equipment to the Lebanese Army.[45] Hezbollah supported the president's call.[citation needed] The next day, Iran's then Defense MinisterAhmad Vahidi expressed readiness to offer military aid to Lebanon.[45]
Iranian PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad planned to visit Lebanon in October 2010, amidst controversy and pressure from the United States, Israel, and a section of theMarch 14 alliance such asSamir Geagea to cancel the trip. However, his Lebanese counterpart,Michel Suleiman, who had invited him, and other opposition figures hailed the visit. TheMarch 8 alliance's parliamentary leaderMichel Aoun,Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary General SheikhNaim Qassem and former Lebanese Prime MinisterSalim Hoss supported his visit.
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Libyabroke rank with most of the Arab countries when it came out in support of Iran during theIran–Iraq War.[46]
Following the collapse of theGaddafi government in the aftermath of the2011 Libyan Civil War, Iran was also one of the countries to recognize theNational Transitional Council government.[47]
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In June 1987, PresidentMaaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya severed all diplomatic relations with Iran in protest of the nation's supposed refusal to negotiate an end to theIran–Iraq War.[48][49]
In recent years, Iran has been pursuing the policy on promoting relations with African countries.
In November 2024, Iran's ambassador toMauritania, Abu Javad, met with Ould Medou, Mauritania's Minister of Culture. During the meeting, both sides expressed readiness for promoting cultural cooperation in various fields including cinema, cultural events, and training courses, among others.[50]
In 1981, Iran cut off all diplomatic ties withRabat in response toKing Hassan II's decision to give asylum to the exiled Shah. A decade later, diplomatic relations between the two nations were renewed, but another decade would have to pass beforeAbderrahmane Youssoufi, the prime minister of Morocco, would lead the first Moroccan delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran.[51]
The posture of Iran about theWestern Sahara dispute had been heavily influenced by its diplomatic relations with the neighbouring countries, Morocco and Algeria. Since late January 1979, the deposedShah of Persia,Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had been granted asylum in Morocco byHassan II, who refused to repatriate him back to Iran to be judged,[52] causing finally the break of relations between Iran and Morocco in 1981. Previously, on 27 February 1980, Iran gave formal diplomatic recognition to theSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as the legitimate government of the territory ofWestern Sahara. The support to thePolisario Front continued during the 1980s, allowing theSahrawi national liberation movement to open a diplomatic representation inTehran.[53]
Oman and Iran share closediplomatic, economic, andmilitary ties. According to Kenneth Katzman of theCongressional Research Service, "Oman has a tradition of cooperation with Iran dating back to theShah of Iran's regime and Oman has always been less alarmed by the perceived threat from Iran than have the other Gulf states." Unlike the majority of itsGulf neighbors, Oman managed to uphold diplomatic relations with both sides during theIran–Iraq War from 1980 to 1988 and strongly supported UN Security Council resolutions to end the conflict. Secret cease-fire talks between the two adversaries were held inMuscat during the war, and although an agreement was never reached during these talks, they did reduce distrust on both sides. Moreover, after the war, Oman mediated talks to restore diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia and Iran and the United Kingdom.
During thePersian Gulf War, Iran–Oman relations were damaged after Iran began running attacks on tanker movements in thePersian Gulf and placed anti-ship missile launchers along theStrait of Hormuz. The Gulf neighbors have since restored their ties and have conducted joint military exercises as recently as February 2011. Oman's leaderSultan Qaboos traveled to Iran in 2009 for the first time sinceIran's 1979 revolution. Though on two occasions the U.S. has dispatched high-level officials to discuss Iran with Oman, the fact that Oman has avoided publicly expressing any concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program is likely a reason why the two states have managed to maintain strong ties.
In addition to strong diplomatic and political ties, Iran and Oman cooperate economically on several fronts, including energy. Most recently, the Gulf neighbors signed an initial agreement to begin supplying large quantities of natural gas from Iran to Oman, a project that was earlier reported to be worth between $7–12 billion. In addition to these major economic projects, the two countries have opened a joint bank to facilitate their mutual financial dealings, agreed to develop the Kish and Hengam gas fields in the Gulf, and signed amemorandum of understanding for a potential joint petrochemical project valued at $800 million.
AboutIran nuclear program, the Omani government's official position on Iran's nuclear program is as follows: "The sultanate hopes Washington will engage in a 'direct dialogue' with Teheran to resolve the crisis over the Iranian nuclear program. The sultanate has no reason not to believe Iran's assurances that its program has purely civilian purposes. This region, no doubt, does not want to see any military confrontation or any tension".
From July 2012 to October 2013, allIranian interests in theUnited Kingdom were maintained by the Omani embassy inLondon.[citation needed]
After theIslamic Revolution, the new theocratic government brought an end to theIran–Israel relationship; it rescinded the country'srecognition of Israeli sovereignty before closing the Israeli embassy inTehran and repurposing it for thePalestine Liberation Organization. Iran officially endorses thedestruction of Israel (or the "Zionist entity"), favouring the establishment ofone Palestinian state encompassing bothIsrael andPalestine, withJerusalem as its capital city.
Several Palestinian militant groups, includingHamas, are close Iranian allies. The Iranian government also gives substantial assistance to theHamas government in theGaza Strip, which depends on foreign aid for an estimated 90% of its budget. Iranian support has not been unconditional however, and in July and August 2011, Iran cut funding to show its displeasure at "Hamas's failure to hold public rallies in support" of Syrian presidentBashar al-Assad during the2011 Syrian uprising. In part for this reason, Hamas was unable to pay the July salaries of its "40,000 civil service and security employees."[54]
Iran sometimes formally uses the term "Occupied Palestine" (e.g., on theIranian passport) to refer to Israel. Before the Islamic Revolution, Israel regardedPahlavi Iran—a non-Arab power on the periphery of the Arab world—as a natural ally and counterweight to Arab ambitions as part of the "alliance of the periphery" of Israeli prime ministerDavid Ben-Gurion.
In 1969, Iran and Qatar signed a demarcation agreement.[23]
Throughout theIran–Iraq War (1980–1988), Qatar supported Saddam Hussein's Iraq financially by providing large loans and cash gifts. Iran's claim in May 1989 that one-third of Qatar's North Field gas reservoir lay under Iranian waters apparently was resolved by an agreement to exploit the field jointly.
Qatar has maintained cordial relations with Iran. In 1991, following the end of thePersian Gulf War, former emir of QatarHamad bin Khalifa welcomed Iranian participation in Persian Gulf security arrangements, however due to resistance from otherPersian Gulf Arab States, these never came into fruition. However, Qatar maintains security cooperation with Iran through bilateral ties. Additionally, plans were being formulated in 1992 to pipe water from the Karun River in Iran to Qatar, but after local resistance in Iran this was laid to rest.
The Iranian community in Qatar, although large, is well-integrated and has not posed a threat to the regime. As of 2012, relations between the two countries were cordial.[55]
Following the outbreak of theIran–Iraq War, Iranian pilgrims held a political demonstration about Saudi moving in the direction of the United States and do not take any action against Israel during theHajj inMecca. In 1987, they succeeded; however,Saudi police crushed the demonstration violently causing theIranian pilgrims to riot. Immediately following the riot,Ruhollah Khomeini called for Muslims to avenge the pilgrims' deaths by overthrowing theSaudi royal family. The Saudi government blamed the riot on the Iranian pilgrims and claimed that the pilgrim riot had been part of a plot to destabilize their rule. The following day mobs attacked the Saudi embassies in Tehran.
In 2001, Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a "major security accord to combat drug trafficking and organized crime".[56]
In 2008, the Saudi King Abdullah invited formerIranian PresidentAli Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to visit Saudi Arabia for the purpose of attending an Islamic conference. Rafsanjani responded by saying that the opportunity was a way "Iran and Saudi Arabia can resolve differences in the Muslim world."[57] In 2010, the websiteWikiLeaksdisclosed various confidential documents pertaining to theUnited States and its allies which revealed thatSaudi ArabianKing Abdullah urged the US to attack Iran.[58]
The crush took place in Mina On 24 September 2015, an event described as a "crush and stampede" caused deaths estimated at well over 2,000 pilgrims. Iran had the highest number of casualties with 464 casualties. AyatollahAli Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declared three days of national mourning in Iran. The cause of the disaster remains in dispute. The Mina disaster inflamed tensions between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, which were already elevated due to the wider turmoil in the Middle East.[59]
On 4 January 2016, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran, following attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran after predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shiite cleric. This was directly followed by Bahrain's dissolution of diplomatic ties with Iran.[14] Saudi Arabia influences the policies of the Arab countries.
Thus, Iran's relations with Arab countries are affected by its relations with Saudi Arabia;
On 23 April 2022, Regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia began negotiations in Baghdad on Saturday after they were interrupted in March, according to Iran's semi-official Nour News.[60]
On 10 March 2023, both Iran and Saudi Arabia announced the restoration of relations after a deal brokered by China.[61] The Iranian embassy reopened on 6 June while the Saudi embassy in Iran reopened in 9 August.[62]
In 2006, theIslamic Courts Union took overMogadishu fromCIA-backedARPCT. Iran has been one of several nations backing the public uprising. According toPrime MinisterAli Mohammed Ghedi, Iran, Egypt, and Libya are helping the militia. The Somali prime minister accuses these countries of wanting more conflict in Somalia, which seems contradictory because ofthe transitional government's inability to extend authority beyondBaidoa, which is something the Islamic Republic sees.[63]
In 1991, "there was evidence of increasing economic and military links between Sudan and Iran... Some 2,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards were allegedly dispatched to Sudan to assist with the training of theSudanese army, and in December President Rafsanjani of Iran made an official visit to Sudan, during which a trade agreement between the two countries was concluded. In November 1993, Iran was reported to have financed Sudan's purchase of some 20 Chinese ground-attack aircraft. In April 1996, the Government was reported to be granting the Iranian navy the use of marine facilities in exchange for financial assistance for the purchase of arms although, in response to a Sudanese request for military aid in 1997, Iran provided assistance only with military maintenance."[64]
During the last week of April 2006, Sudanese PresidentOmar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir met with a number of Iranian public figures in Tehran, including theSupreme LeaderAli Khamenei and PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad. In a joint news conference with al-Bashir on 24 April, Ahmadinejad explained to the public his belief that "expansion of ties between the two countries serves the interests of both nations, the region, and the Islamic world, particularly in terms of boosting peace and stability." Before the conference ended, al-Bashir congratulated Iran for its successful pursuit of "nuclear power for peaceful purposes," while Ahmadinejad restated his opposition to the participation ofUN Peacekeepers inDarfur.[citation needed]
Ba'athist Syria and Iran were strategic allies. Syria was often called Iran's "closest ally",[65] theArab nationalism ideology of Syria'sBaath party notwithstanding. During theIran–Iraq War, Syria sided with non-Arab Iran against its enemyIraq and was isolated by Saudi Arabia and some of the Arab countries, with the exceptions ofLibya,Lebanon,Algeria,Sudan andOman.[66] Iran and Syria have had a strategic alliance ever since, partially due to their common animosity towardsSaddam Hussein and coordination against theUnited States andIsrael, until2024. Syria and Iran cooperated on arms smuggling from Iran toHezbollah inLebanon, which borders Israel.[67]
On 16 June 2006, the defence ministers of Iran and Syria signed an agreement for military cooperation against what they called the "common threats" presented by Israel and the United States. Details of the agreement were not specified, however Iranian defense minister Najjar said "Iran considers Syria's security its own security, and we consider our defense capabilities to be those of Syria." The visit also resulted in the sale of Iranian military hardware to Syria.[68] In addition to receiving military hardware, Iran has consistently invested billions of dollars into the Syrian economy.[69] The Ba'athist Syrian leadership, including Former President Assad himself, belongs predominantly to theAlawite branch of Shi'a Islam. Iran was involved in implementing several industrial projects in Syria, including cement factories, car assembly lines, power plants, and silo construction. Iran also had plans to set up a joint Iranian–Syrian bank in the future.[citation needed]
In February 2007, PresidentsMahmoud Ahmadinejad andBashar al-Assad met in Tehran. Ahmadinejad afterwards declared that they would form an alliance to combat US and Israeli conspiracies against the Islamic world.[70]
During theSyrian Civil War, Iran has aided the Syrian government.The Guardian has claimed that in 2011 the IranianRevolutionary Guard increased its "level of technical support and personnel support" to strengthen Syria's "ability to deal with protesters," according to one diplomat inDamascus.[71]
Iran reportedly assisted the Syrian government sending it riot control equipment, intelligence monitoring techniques and oil.[72] It also agreed to fund a large military base atLatakia airport.[72]The Daily Telegraph has claimed in 2011 that a former member of Syria's secret police reported "Iranian snipers" had been deployed in Syria to assist in the crackdown on protests.[73] According to the US government, Mohsen Chizari, theQuds Force's third-in-command, has visited Syria to train security services to fight against the protestors.[43] Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei, stated in regards to the uprising: "In Syria, the hand of America and Israel is evident;" and in regards to the al-Assad government: "Wherever a movement is Islamic, populist, and anti-American, we support it."
Other Iranian officials have made similar pronouncements identifying the US government as the origin of the uprising.[43] However, in late August, the Iranian government gave its "first public sign" of concern over Syrian's handling of its crisis when foreign ministerAli Akbar Salehi issued a statement including the Syrian government in the list of states he urged to "answer to the demands of its people."[74]
After the fall of the Assad government it is uncertain how relations will develop as an Iranian diplomat said in December 2024.[75]
Following labour unrest led by theTunisian General Labour Union throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, in 1987 President Bourguiba instigated a massive purge of Tunisian politics under the pretext of a "terrorist conspiracy" sponsored by Iran. Iran protested and diplomatic relations were promptly broken. On 27 September 1987, a state security court found 76 defendants guilty of plotting against the government and planting bombs; seven (five in absentia) were sentenced to death.[76][77]
In September 1990, Tunisia and Iran restored diplomatic relations once again. Relations remained unchanged until June 1999, when the speaker of the Tunisian Parliament,Fouad Mebazaa, became the first Tunisian official to visit Iran since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. His visit was intended to reflect "the rapid improvement in bilateral relations since the setting up of the joint committee for cooperation on the level of the foreign ministers in the mid-1990s".[78] By 2000, trade relations between the two nations reachedUSD 73 million.[79] The following year, on 19 April 2001, Tunisian prime minister Muhammad al-Ghanoushe visited Tehran on "an official visit" to sign a new joint trade agreement with his counterpart.[80]
Iranian investors have a wide presence in the UAE and account for 10 percent of the Arab country's population. Based on recent statistics, nearly 400,000Iranians live in the UAE running 10,000 small business firms. Trade between Dubai and Iran tripled to $12 billion from 2005 to 2009.[81]
Following the 1979 Revolution in Iran, the UAE has been pushing for the return of the islands. The countries maintain very close economic ties and the UAE has a significant Iranian expatriate community.[82]Outstanding conflicts are:
However, Iran has criticized the UAE for allowing France to develop its first permanent base in the Persian Gulf region there.[83]
Recently, despite the spread of false information by neighboring countries and outsider powers, UAE has been seeking to ease tensions with Iran, as they are two of the most strategic partners in terms of economy and politics.[84]
Yemen and Iran have full diplomatic and trade relations. Following the first two decades of the 1979 Revolution, ties between Tehran and Sana'a were never strong, but in recent years the two countries have attempted to settle their differences.[85] One sign of this came on 2003-12-02, when the Yemeni foreign ministry announced that "Yemen welcomes Iran's request to participate in the Arab League as an observer member."[86]
On 10 May 2006, "the Yemeni ambassador to Iran Jamal al-Salal met... with the Iranian deputy foreign minister for the Arab and North Africa Affairs Mohammad Baqiri and the deputy assistant of the foreign minister for educational affairs and research Mohammadi respectively. The meeting centered on boosting mutual cooperation between the two countries and means to reinforce them. The talks also dealt with issues of common interest at the regional and Islamic levels."[87]
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| Conflicts | |
| Incidents |
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| Iranian relations withGCC member states | |
| Related topics |
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