POLICYMAKERS generally think up policies that are beneficial to their country. But there are some whom I really cannot fathom. I would like to look inside the minds of policymakers in Iran to see if they are thinking straight. On the one hand, they send messages of good will to their neighbors when, on the other, it emerges really as just a double-speak. Their messages in reality do not translate the way they speak. While they deliver platitudes and messages that all would like to hear, they are working behind these banalities toward a regional hegemony. We have seen how Iran has now assumed control over four Arab-country capitals. This is no secret as one of the top political figures in the Iranian parliament has said this directly and proudly. They are now controlling Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut and the Yemen capital Sana'a. Did they for once think that Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries will allow them willy-nilly to assume total control of Yemen with their support of the outlaw group of Houthis militia. It is no secret that Iran has been instigating instability in Yemen by pitching groups against each other and backing Houthis in this endeavor. Their action has driven the country on the verge of civil war. It is time that we all wake up. Iran's ambition is evident to all. It is to assume total control of the Arab region and they are slowly doing it with direct and indirect efforts. In some of the neighboring countries they are involved directly, but in others they are indirectly waging a proxy war. We should not stand still while Iran applies its plans of expanding its territories. The Saudi-led alliance's strike against the Houthi militia in Yemen is the best reply to Iran's naked ambition and will also tell the Iranians, who harbored hopes of a ‘Greater Persia', in no uncertain terms that there is no way they will be able to establish a backyard in Yemen. Yemen is the cradle of Arabism and we have historical links with the people of Yemen. When there is a call for help, Saudi Arabia will answer. During the past months Saudi Arabia was leading a diplomatic campaign to restore peace in Yemen and to prevent the country from slipping into the abyss of civil war. Peace and security of Yemen is part of the peace and security of Saudi Arabia and the entire Gulf region. The minority Houthis militia, strongly backed by Iran, has been refusing all attempts for dialogue in resolving the Yemen conundrum. Instead, like a thug, they began operating clandestinely, at first, then openly in wanting to take over all of Yemen and force others to accept them as a political power. They even put the legitimate Yemeni president under house arrest along with other government members, while mowing down all opposition by force. The funny thing here is that the Houthis spokespersons have been claiming in their media that the entire Yemeni population is backing them. These brazen claims are being made despite the large demonstrations against their presence in all Yemeni cities. Imagine me living peacefully in a house and an outsider, a downright rogue, starts trouble and forces me out of my house first then the troublemaker starts to throw other people out of their homes and take over them by force. Yet this troublemaker speaks sweetly and, with a big smile, says that he means me no harm. Then this troublemaker is doubly dangerous. Not only is he using strong-arm tactics to take what he wants, but is devious in trying to charm others into believing that he is not doing anything destructive. If this troublemaker is creating problems for my next-door neighbor and is attempting to take his house, as a neighbor, shouldn't I act quickly and provide help for my neighbor and kick this troublemaker away? The troublemaker in this case is Iran and it needs to be stopped. We all know that Yemen will be a breeding ground for terrorist activity against us if Houthis, and by proxy Iran, assumes control. Iran took advantage of Arab weakness in the recent past years after the Arab Spring and began its expansionist plans in an attempt to fulfill its dream of a ‘Greater Persia'. How can we trust Iran's good intention or good faith when the consultant of the Iranian president said last month that Baghdad is the new capital of a great Iranian empire. This man was courageous enough to drop his mask and be honest about what is in his heart. This must be the general feeling in Iran. In a response, Saudi Arabia has answered the call of help coming from a legitimate president to protect Yemen from the militia that is backed by Iranians. The action was quick and swift and surprising to many. This is a legitimate campaign backed by the Arab countries and the international community against a Houthi coup bid to restore peace in Yemen. We want a bright future for Yemen, an independent Yemen free from Iranian dominance. Iran should focus on its many internal problems rather than on expanding its territories and creating problems in other people's countries. They should remember, what goes around, comes around and whatever evil deed they plan for others may backfire on them one day.
— The writer can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @anajeddawi_eng
