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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. ARAB COUNTRY NEIGHBORS OF IRAN NON-NEIGHBORING ARAB COUNTRIES WHO HAVE RELATIONS WITH IRAN PRE 17TH CENTURY
17TH TO 19TH CENTURY 20TH CENTURY Algeria In 2003 , "five major agreements on bilateral cooperation in the areas of judicial affairs, finance, industry, and air transport were inked by Iran and Algeria during Bouteflika 's visit to Iran." {Link without Title} Bahrain In 1970, Iran simultaniously 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 Iran occupied the strategic Persian Gulf Islands in exchange. 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 unoficially 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 recourance, the episode caused Bahrain to crackdown on it's 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 severly critical of Bahrain hosting the US navy Fifth Fleet within the Persian Gulf . Egypt After the Islamic Revolution consolidated power in Iran, the nation's relationship with Egypt quickly fell apart. 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. {Link without Title} In , Iran symbolically dedicated a street to Khaled Islambouli , Sadat's assassin. {Link without Title} While trade relations slowly improved during the , 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 {Link without Title} . Iraq Almost immediately after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, 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 devestating 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. Jordan Kuwait After the Shia Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 , the Sunni led government of Kuwait became fearful of its large Shia population and of posible 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 concequently 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 {Link without Title} . In September 1986, while the Iran-Iraq War was still raging on, Iran began to concentrate its attacks on gulf shipping, largely on Kuwaiti tankers in an effort to disuade 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. {Link without Title} . In 1990, following the Persian Gulf War (Gulf War) Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations suffered biterly and concequently 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 {Link without Title} . Lebanon Libya Mauritania Morocco 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. {Link without Title} Oman 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 Dhufar Rebellion . During the same period an Omani-Iranian border agreement was also signed regarding the Straits of Hormuz {Link without Title} . During the Iran-Iraq War Oman remained neutral, preffering to take no sides. This allowed it to be in the position to attempt to bring Iran and Iraq into a negotiated setlement after the war in 1994. Since then peaceful ties have continued and expanded {Link without Title} . The Palestinian Authority Qatar 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. 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 (Gulf War) , Shaykh Hamad Ibn Khalifa welcomed Iranian participation in 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 however 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. {Link without Title} United Arab Emirates 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 it's independence the UAE claimed the islands as its own. During the Pahlavi Monarchy of Iran, those claims were largely minimal. However with the decline of Iran's international prestige 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. {Link without Title} Outstanding conflicts are:
Qatar 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. 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 (Gulf War) , Shaykh Hamad Ibn Khalifa welcomed Iranian participation in 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 however 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. {Link without Title} Saudi Arabia In 2001 , Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a "major security accord to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime". {Link without Title} Sudan 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 Peacekeeper s in Darfur . {Link without Title} Syria Tunisia Yemen SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS SOURCES 1. ''Kuwait'' Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 18 Apr. 2006. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-93658. 2. ''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 |
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