Saudi- Strong GCC response

(MENAFN- Arab News) I read with interest the article 'GCC-US ties rebooted' (May 18) by Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg. The Gulf Arab leaders have proved to the world that their peaceful posture should not be seen as their weakness. As a matter of fact they are capable enough of dealing with any untoward situation in the region without any foreign help. The Gulf leaders have always stressed the need for dialogue to resolve conflicts. Even in the case of Yemen GCC countries particularly Saudi Arabia made every effort to resolve the crisis amicably. In fact the Iranian-backed Houthis were the ones who refused to budge. The military action in Yemen came after Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies had exhausted all other options.

Iranian support had emboldened the Houthis to such an extent that they shrugged aside all agreements. They had been under the impression that the Gulf leaders would continue with their peaceful policies and would keep calling on them to come to the negotiating table. Fortunately the Saudi leadership did not wait for the situation to further aggravate and caught the Houthis and their backer unawares. Thus effectively putting an end to the Iranian march in the region.

The reason behind the Gulf region's uneasiness over the imminent West-Iran deal is Tehran's interference in the Arab world. Iran's expansionist designs are sharply dividing the region along sectarian lines. Instead of fighting the scourge of terrorism together communities in various turmoil-ridden Arab countries are at loggerheads with each other. This infighting is only benefiting terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda. The western stance toward Iran is astonishing. Even the mainstream western media is continuously reporting about Iran's belligerence in the Middle East but to no avail. This possible US-Iran detente is said to part of some kind of a grand scheme as many reports suggest. Fahad Ahmed Khan Jeddah