ABSTRACT
The Iran-Iraq war has thrown into sharper relief the paramount issue facing the Arab states of the Gulf: how to deal with the Iranian revolution. As both an Islamic state and revolution, Iran has claimed a unique position in the contemporary Islamic world, as vanguard, model and leader. Inevitably Iran’s claims to such a role and the exclusive right to judge the Islamic credentials of its neighbours, would have created strains with its neighbours in the Gulf. The 1975 Algiers agreement between Iran and Iraq regulating the overall relationship as well as adjusting respective border claims had been a triumph of pragmatism over ideology on both sides. Iran disclaimed any intention of posing a threat to the Gulf states and adopted a tone of injured innocence, combining blandishments with intimidation. Of Iran’s power and predominance in the region there had never been any question, particularly in relation to the Gulf states.
