‘Combat Iranian lobby in West’
GCC political experts called for a movement to combat the Iranian lobby that is far more advanced in squeezing itself into the western decision making bureaus. In the political security discussion session on the sidelines of the fourth Arab Gulf Forum for Strategic Planning (GFSP4), political experts from GCC states spoke about the means to overcome the historic Arab-Farsi cultural conflict.
Main speakers during the event were Shura Council member Bassam Al Binmohammed, Saudi Shura Council member Dr. Isa Al Ghaith and professor of Literature and History in Umm Al Qura University specialising in the subject of Iranian Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al Salmi.
Dr. Al Salmi said, “Iran is a neighbour that we could not chuck out. The main problem with the Iranian regime is that it’s ruled by a sectarian regime and motive.”
“It even goes way back to the historic Arab-Farsi disagreement since the year 11 A.D. The western colonisation brought the conflict back to life in the seventeenth century, by blaming the Arabs for demolishing the Farsi civilisation and stirring the old disagreement again. The aggression continued since then and took a sectarian turn until we reached where we are now,” Dr. Al Salmi added. As for Albinmohammed, he stressed on the role of popular solidarity and civil societies in supporting the politics of countries.
He said, “The Iranian lobby is working its way into vital decision making rooms of the world, and we should beat them to it by joining efforts on all levels.”
Emphasising on the same point, Dr. Al Salmi called for more cultural activities of GCC countries in the western world.
He demanded to form a joint gulf strategy that targets the western world culturally, in order to introduce the nature and objectives of GCC countries there.
“We need to strengthen our public relations in the western world and deliver the correct information to them. The opposing side (Iran) pays more efforts to reach them. That’s why the westerns adopt one side of the story and believe it,” Dr. Al Salmi claimed, adding that “the solution for this never-ending conflict is political.”
Highlighting the roles of social media networks in achieving such strategies, Dr. Al Ghaith said, “Twitter became a very strong tool to reflect the general sense people. It has enabled them politically, even more than some government officials. Nowadays, the people of the gulf are combating extremism and terrorism through social media. This high level of awareness would sure benefit the nation.”
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