Tehran has miscalculated by striking Arab neighbors, experts say
By Chris Lau
People watch from their balcony following explosions after the Qatar's defense ministry says it has downed missiles targeting the country, in Doha, on Saturday. Mohammed Salem/Reuters
Iran strikes on Arab neighbors appear to have backfired, hardening Gulf opposition rather than pressuring regional governments to push Washington to halt its attacks. experts told CNN.
“They are fundamentally misreading the Gulf and they are fundamentally misreading us,” said Beth Sanner, a former deputy director of National Intelligence under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Instead of winning support from other Gulf states, she said, Tehran’s actions have pulled them into “the anti-Iranian coalition.”
After the first wave of US-Israeli joint strikes, Iran launched attacks across the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates to Bahrain, damaging buildings and disrupting airports operations.
Several Gulf governments condemned Iran’s strikes, which also disrupted air travel and oil shipments.
Retired US Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, a fromer commander of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet, said Iran’s approach reflected two miscalculations.
“One is (Iran was) playing not in good faith in the negotiations, so much so that the US decided that they had to execute this option,” Donegan said.
The second, he said, was Tehran apparent belief that attacks would drive a wedge between Gulf states and the US.
“I don’t see that happening,” he said.
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