Iran-Arab relations

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Iranian-Arab relations have always been very mixed. Within the Middle East historical conflicts have always colored neighbouring Arab countries' perceptions about Iran. At times peacefully coexisting, while at other times in bitter conflict. North African Arabs from the Greater Middle East have for the larger part enjoyed closer relations with Iran due to the fact that there has been limited historical connection between them and Iran.

Foreign relations of Iran

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Contents 1 Context of Relations 2 Arab country neighbors of Iran 3 Non-neighboring Arab countries 4 The Islamic conquest of Persia (637-651 CE) 5 The Safavid dynasty and the Ottoman Empire 6 The Qajar dynasty and the Ottoman Empire 7 The Qajar dynasty and the Southern Arabian Kingdoms 8 Relations in the 20th Century 8.1 Algeria 8.2 Bahrain 8.3 Egypt 8.4 Iraq 8.5 Jordan 8.6 Kuwait 8.7 Lebanon 8.8 Libya 8.9 Mauritania 8.10 Morocco 8.11 Oman 8.12 The Palestinian Authority 8.13 Qatar 8.14 Saudi Arabia 8.15 Somalia 8.16 Sudan 8.17 Syria 8.18 Tunisia 8.19 United Arab Emirates 8.20 Western Sahara 8.21 Yemen 9 See also 10 External links 11 Sources

[edit] Context of Relations

Ethnicity and Language

Iran is a multi-ethnic and multi-language (mostly Persian) country. About 3% of Iranians are ethnic Arabs and native speakers of Arabic, the vast majority- over 97% of the country do not speak Arabic and do not consider themselves ethnically or culturaly related to Arabs.

Religion

Iranians are predominantly Shia muslims while Arabs (with the exception of Bahrain and Iraq) are predominantly Sunni Muslims.

[edit] Arab country neighbors of Iran

Bahrain Iraq Kuwait

Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

[edit] Non-neighboring Arab countries

Algeria Comoros Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Jordan

Lebanon Libya Mauritania Morocco

Somalia Sudan Syria Tunisia Western Sahara (SADR) Yemen

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[edit] The Islamic conquest of Persia (637-651 CE)

The Islamic conquest of Persia led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia (modern day Iran). However, the achievements of the previous Persian civilizations were not lost, but were to a great extent absorbed by the new Islamic policy.

[edit] The Safavid dynasty and the Ottoman Empire

[edit] The Qajar dynasty and the Ottoman Empire

[edit] The Qajar dynasty and the Southern Arabian Kingdoms

[edit] Relations in the 20th Century

[edit] Algeria

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Algeria always traditionally supported Iranian efforts to obtain high oil prices through OPEC, often to the detriment of its relations with other Arab countries. In 1975 Algeria worked to bring about the Algiers Agreement between Iran and Iraq, thus ending decades of tension between the two countries over their shared border.

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Following the Iranian Revolution, in 1981 Algeria's role was instrumental in the release of the US diplomatic hostages held in Iran [1].

The two countries broke off ties in 1993 after Algeria accused Iran of supporting the Islamic Salvation Front, the major opposition of the Algerian government. The charges were denied by Tehran. In 1998 Iran became increasingly critical of Algeria's heavy handed security forces, especially during several massacres during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and led efforts to pressure Algeria to act more humanely through the international community[2]. Algeria in turn blamed Iran for the massacre. [3].

After a decade, in early September 2000, diplomatic relations between Algeria and Iran were re-established in a decision made by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and his Algerian counterpart Abdulaziz Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the sidelines of the United Nations millennium summit [4]. The resumption of relations paved the way for a number of agreements "on bilateral cooperation in the areas of judicial affairs, finance, industry, and air transport" [5]. Relations continued to strengthen rapidly after that to the extent that in 2002 Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani and Algerian Joint Chief of Staff Muhamed al- Imari Wednesday signed and agreement for military and technical cooperation in Iran [6]. In the recent 2006 UN vote on Iran's nuclear programe, Algeria abstained from voting [7].

[edit] Bahrain

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

In 1970, Iran simultaneously laid claim to both Bahrain and two other Persian Gulf islands (the Lesser and Greater Tunb Islands), however in an agreement with the United Kingdom it agreed to 'not pursue' its irredentist claims on Bahrain if its other claims were realised. The British withdrew from Bahrain in August 1971, making Bahrain an independent emirate, meanwhile the strategic Persian Gulf Islands were returned to Iran in exchange.^{[1] [2]}

Relations with the Islamic Republic

After 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, Bahraini Shia fundamentalists in 1981 orchestrated a failed coup attempt under the auspices of a front organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain. The coup would have installed a Shia cleric exiled in Iran, Hojjat ol-Eslam Hādī al-Mudarrisī, as supreme leader heading a theocratic government. The Bahraini government unofficially regarded the coup as Iran attempting to overthrow their Sunni 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 the countries are beginning to enjoy closer relations again and have engaged in many joint economic ventures. Iran has been severely critical of Bahrain hosting the US navy Fifth Fleet within the Persian Gulf.

[edit] Egypt

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

As long as Egypt and Persia were governed by monarchies, their relations in the 20th century could be described as relatively cordial. For a long period they shared a common interest of struggle to throw off the yoke of colonial interference and domination from Great Britain. The two royal houses were in fact joined together briefly in the abortive marriage of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran to Princess Fawzia, the sister of King Farouk of Egypt in 1939.

With the overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy in 1952 and the emergence of Colonel Nasser as the republican champion of the pan-Arab cause, relations between the two countries deteriorated. Egypt's ill-fated adventure in the Yemen in the early 1960s drew pointed criticism from the Iranian authorities, and the Egyptians responded with revanchist threats to reclaim Iran's Khuzestan province—which they called Arabistan—for the glory of the Arab world. Nasser was also one of the first Arab leaders who used the term Arabian Gulf in reference to Persian Gulf, an act which greatly offended Iranians and continues to do so even today.

Nasser's successor, Anwar Sadat, began his career as a military man and a staunch member of the Revolutionary Command Council that overthrew the monarchy and erected the republican system in Egypt. Nevertheless, when he took over the presidency, on Nasser's death in 1970, he became a close friend and confidant of that quintessential monarch, the Shah of Iran. Diplomatic ties were cemented and commercial relations expanded. Egypt under Sadat regarded the Shah as a partner in stability for the region and a bulwark against rising currents of Islamic extremism [8].

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Relations between Egypt and Iran collapsed with the sudden eruption of the Islamic 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 welcoming Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Shah of Iran, for a short, but indefinite, stay [9]. In 1980, Iran officially cut all ties with Egypt. This move was a response to the 1978 Camp David Accords, as well as Egypt's support for Iraq in the Iraq-Iran War. [10] In 1981, Iran symbolically dedicated a street to Khaled Islambouli, Sadat's assassin. [11]

While trade relations slowly improved during the 1990s [12], Khaled al-Islambouli was honored for a second time in 2001 "with a huge new mural" in Tehran [13]. Two years later, in late 2003, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami met with the Egyptian President Hosni 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 to Muhammad al-Durrah, a 12-year-old boy who was famously killed by the Israeli Defense Force in the opening days of the Second Intifada [14].

[edit] Iraq

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Independence in 1930s.

• 1955: The Baghdad Pact, a military-security agreement, comprise in the beginning Iraq and Turkey, later Britain, Pakistan and Iran.
• 1959: Iraq withdraws from the Baghdad Pact.
• 1974 March: Fights between government forces and Kurdish groups. The Kurds received aid from Iran. Kurdish cities like Zakho and Qalaat Diza are razed to the ground, and hundreds of thousands of Kurds flee the cities.
• 1975: Settlement of border disputes with Iran (Iran keeps all occupied territories), makes Iran stop aid to the Kurds, and the revolt is crushed.

Relations with the Islamic Republic

On 17 September 1980, after the Islamic Revolution in Iran settled down, Iraq under Saddam Hussain declared the previous settlement of border disputes with Iran null and void. Several days later on September 22nd Iraq invaded Iran in the Iran-Iraq War. Lasting till 1988 the brutal war killed over one million people and critically soured Arab-Iranian relations. The Iranian government officially viewed the conflict not as Arab vs. Iranian but from a religious perspective of Shia versus Sunni, although many in Iran did view the conflict as an Arab versus Iran issue. In Iraq the conflict was continually presented in a historical context as Arab versus Persian. 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 other Persian Gulf Arab States. The war was a primary cause for the rise of Anti-Arabism within Iran, which had until then been largely insignificant. The war ended with a UN sponsored cease-fire. Several years later in 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait leading to the Persian Gulf War. This action, and the ensuing Western reaction, was severely condemned by Iran.

[edit] Jordan

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

In 1980, Iran cut all ties with Jordan after the outbreak of Iran-Iraq War. Relations between the two nations resumed in 1991.

In September 2000, "King Abdullah met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on the sidelines of the Millennium Summit in New York. [15] 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 per cent on the previous year's $13.7 million." [16]

On September 2 and 3, 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". [17]

[edit] Kuwait

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

After the Shia Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, the Sunni led government of Kuwait became fearful of its large Shia population and of possible Iranian hegemony in the Persian Gulf and began to regard Iran with increasing suspicion. When the Iran-Iraq War broke out with Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran, Kuwait deeply supported the Iraqi move. It was an action that was bitterly resented by Iran. Throughout the war Kuwait provided Iraq with billions of dollars in military and social aid as well as logistical support by allowing Iraqi use of its ports. Iran consequently attacked a Kuwaiti refinery complex in 1981, which inspired subsequent acts of sabotage in 1983 and 1986. In 1985 a member of the underground pro-Iranian Iraqi radical group al-Da'wah attempted to assassinate the Kuwaiti ruler, Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad Al Sabah[18].

In September 1986, while the Iran-Iraq War was still raging on, Iran began to concentrate its attacks on Persian Gulf shipping, largely on Kuwaiti tankers in an effort to dissuade Arab support for Iraq. This led Kuwait to invite both the Soviet Union (with which it had established diplomatic relations in 1963) and the United States to provide protection for its tankers in early 1987. [19].

In 1990, following the Persian Gulf War Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations suffered bitterly and consequently Kuwaiti-Iranian relations began to improve. Bilateral relations were gradually strengthened, with exchanges of Iranian and Kuwaiti political and economic delegations leading to the signing of several economic and trade agreements.

In February 2006, Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad vistied 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 [20].

[edit] Lebanon

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

[edit] Libya

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Libya broke rank with most of the Arab nations when it came out in support of Iran during the Iran-Iraq War.

[edit] Mauritania

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

In June 1987, President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya severed all diplomatic relations with Iran in protest of the nation's supposed refusal to negotiate an end to the Iran-Iraq War.

[edit] Morocco

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

In 1981, Iran cut off all diplomatic ties with Rabat in response to King 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 before Abdurrahman Yossoufi, the prime minister of Morocco, would lead the first Moroccan delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran. [21] Iran supports the independence of Western Sahara as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

[edit] Oman

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Iran and Oman have always had close ties covering the economic, cultural, political, and military spheres.

Between 1970 and 1975, Sultan Qaboos the ruler of Oman acknowledged Iran's regional strength and obtained Iranian military assistance in fighting the Saudi backed Dhofar Rebellion.

During the same period an Omani-Iranian border agreement was also signed regarding the Straits of Hormuz [22].

Relations with the Islamic Republic

During the Iran-Iraq War Oman remained neutral, preferring to take no sides. This allowed it to be in the position to attempt to bring Iran and Iraq into a negotiated settlement after the war in 1994.

Since then peaceful ties have continued and expanded [23].

[edit] The Palestinian Authority

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

[edit] Qatar

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations between Iran and Qatar have partially been based on proximity (important trade links exist between the two countries, including a ferry service between Doha and Bushehr) and partly on mutual interests. Iran was one of the first countries to recognize Shaykh Khalifa ibn Hamad in 1972.

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Throughout the Iran-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.

In 1991, following the end of the Persian Gulf War, Shaykh Hamad ibn Khalifa welcomed Iranian participation in Persian Gulf security arrangements, however due to resistance from other Persian Gulf Arab States these never came into fruition. 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. Today relations between the two countries are cordial. [24]

[edit] Saudi Arabia

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Following the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War, Iranian pilgrims felt they had to hold a political demonstration against Saudi support for Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War during the Hajj in Mecca. In 1987 they succeeded, however Saudi police crushed the demonstration with violent force causing the Iranian pilgrims to riot.

Immediately following the riot, Ruhollah Khomeini called for Muslims to avenge the pilgrims' deaths by overthrowing the Saudi 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 Kuwaiti and Saudi embassies in Tehran.

In 2001, Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a "major security accord to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime". [25]

[edit] Somalia

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union took over Mogadishu from CIA-backed warlords who had oppressed the people of Somalia. Iran has been one of several nations backing the public uprising. According to Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, Iran, Egypt, and Libya are helping the militia. The Prime Minister accuses these countries of wanting more conflict in Somalia, which seems contradictory because of the Transitional Government's inability to extend authority beyond Baidoa, which is something the Islamic Republic sees.[26]

There also were reports of two Iranians trading weapons for uranium in Mogadishu.

[edit] Sudan

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

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 the Sudanese 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." [27]

During the last week of April 2006, Sudanese President Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir met with a number of Iranian public figures in Tehran, including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud 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 of UN Peacekeepers in Darfur. [28]

[edit] Syria

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

During the Iran-Iraq War Syria sided with Iran and was isolated by the other Arab countries, with the exception of Libya. Iran and Syria have had a strategic alliance ever since, based partially on their common animosity towards Saddam Hussein. Although the two countries differ in both dominant religion (Shiite versus Sunnite) and ethnic identity (Persian versus Arab), they are apparently driven one towards the other by the need for an ally. Professor David Lesch of Trinity University says that when he asked Assad about his friendships with North Korea and Iran, he replied "Well, I have no choice. I have to have some friends."[29]

On June 16, 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 Syrian defence 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. ^[3][4].

On February 17, 2007, Presidents Ahmadinejad and Assad met in Teheran. Ahmadinejad afterwards declared that they would form an alliance to combat US and Israeli conspiracies against the Islamic world.[30]

[edit] Tunisia

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Following labour unrest led by the General Union of Tunisian Workers throughout the 1970s and early 80s, in 1987 President Bourguiba instigated a masstive 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 [31] [32].

In September 1990, Tunisia and Iran restored diplomatic relations once again. Relations remained unchanged until June 1999, when the speaker of the Tunisian Parliament, Fuad al-Mubze, 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." [33] By 2000, trade relations between the two nations reached 73 million (USD). [34] The following year, on April 19, 2001, Tunisian prime minister Muhammad al-Ghanoushe visited Tehran on "an official visit" to sign a new joint trade agreement with his counterpart. [35]

[edit] United Arab Emirates

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Since its release from the United Kingdom as a British protectorate on December 1, 1971 Iran has had frayed, but cordial, relations with the United Arab Emirates. Iran had previously, before the UAE's independence, occupied the Greater and Lesser Tunb Islands in an agreement with the Britain (see above section on Bahrain). Following its independence the UAE claimed the islands as its own. During the Pahlavi Monarchy of Iran, those claims were largely minimal.

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Following the Islamic 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. [36]

Outstanding conflicts are:

• UAE claims two islands in the Persian Gulf currently held by Iran: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Tonb-e Kuchak in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran);
• UAE claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran) - over which Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island;

[edit] Western Sahara

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Relations with the Islamic Republic

On February 27, 1980, Iran gave formal recognition to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as the legitimate government of all Western Sahara. They have continued their support for the Polisario Front ever since.[37][38]

[edit] Yemen

Relations with the Pahlavi Dynasty

Throughout "Yemen's long civil war of the 1960s, Iran gave financial aid and a small quantity of arms to the Royalist government of the Zaydi Imam, though its contribution was small compared to that of Sunni Saudi Arabia. The Shah's help had less to do with Shi'ite fellowship than with hindering the regional ambitions of Nasser, who had already deployed the United Arab Republic army on the Republican side. The Republicans were themselves dominated by a mainly Zaydi officer corps and most Shi'ite and Sunni tribes were usually just a bribe away from changing sides. For the most part, the Arab Zaydis of Yemen have continued to evolve in isolation from their Shi'ite brethren in Iran." [39]

Relations with the Islamic Republic

Following the first two decades of the Islamic Revolution, ties between Tehran and Sana'a were never strong, but in recent years the two countries have attempted to settle their differences. [40] One sign of this came on December 2, 2003, when the Yemeni foreign ministry announced that "Yemen welcomes Iran's request to participate in the Arab League as an observer member." [41]

On May 10, 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 researches 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." [42]

[edit] See also

• Foreign relations of Iran
• Persian Gulf naming dispute
• Anti-Persianism by Arabs
• 2007 Arab world-US coalition against Iran

[edit] External links

• Iranian Foreign Ministry
• Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[edit] Sources

• Kuwait Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 18 Apr. 2006. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-93658.
• Oman: A Unique Foreign Policy Produces a Key Player in Middle Eastern and Global Diplomacy RAND Organisation. http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB2501/index1.html
• Henner Furtig and Anoushiravan Ehteshami. Iran's Rivalry With Saudi Arabia Between the Gulf Wars. 2006, Ithaca. ISBN-13: 978-0863723117