IT LOOKS like the theatrical play — the military maneuvers carried out by Iran recently — has increased the level of arrogance of the regime of Mullahs. This arrogance has added to the ante of threats against the neighbors, the US, Europe, and even some of its allies like Russia and China. These threats have become the order of the day because the regime has entered the complicated phase of its problems — irrespective of whether these problems are internal or regional — the same as the situation with its ally in Damascus. The Iranians seem to ignore the fact that empty vessels make more noise. Moreover, there are signs that Tehran is not far from being ‘struck’ by an international operation and we say this because signs have begun to appear on the horizon. These signs are reflected in the firm international language and the economic sanctions. This is the normal procedure adopted against those who think they are an individual power. It may then be the case for the reckless regime to realize what kind of trouble it has pushed itself in.

The Iranian threats against Kuwait, and the implicit threats against Saudi Arabia, are not less dangerous than the threats Saddam made against Kuwait in 1990. These threats, which were made under the pretext of unilateral steps with regard to the Continental Shelf and the utilization of the joint Al-Durra field, represent a flagrant aggression on natural resources and Kuwaiti borders. This is akin to pelting stones at a beehive because of the threat to close the Straits of Hormuz through which oil passes to the outside world in view of the deteriorating economic situation and the continuous rise in oil prices. Any provocative act by Iran will not be a picnic as they think. Tehran should not forget Kuwait has signed international security and military pacts with several countries in addition to being a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Iran has tried during the past few decades to impose unilateral facts in the Gulf basin. During that period, it refused to listen to the voices of reason coming from GCC countries that sought to preserve good neighborly relations without any troubles. Contrary to these voices, Iran continued to play all dirty tricks. Take for example its stubborn stance on the issue of the occupied islands belonging to the United Arab Emirates and intervention in the internal affairs of some Gulf states through spying.

Kuwait was harmed by these acts which were compounded by the threat of an aggression against Kuwait and its rights in natural resources. Iran in all this refused to open its doors for any attempts for dialogue or trust-building. The legitimate Kuwaiti rights are not up for ‘extortion’. This has been reiterated by the Kuwaiti government time and again. This was reflected by its stance towards what some Iranian officials have announced in this regard. These rights are also not something that is up for political exploitation in the context of a solution of internal or regional crises.

The Iranian side must understand that these facts are very clear. Tehran must know its limits and stop flexing muscles at the wrong time and at the wrong place. It must also know that geography has not always been on the side of any party that considers itself the dominating power — and lessons in this context are many. The spectacle of Iranian arrogance can be shown only at circus for children, not in a sensitive region like the Gulf. This is a fact that only the wise can understand. Those whose insight has been clouded by arrogance will fail to see that fact. This may well be the mistake that leads to a resolution of the case of a regime that keeps knocking on the doors of hell by its reckless acts.