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On Iran, Arabs Deeply Mistrust Obama
(Daily Star-Lebanon) Michael Young - Two issues raised by Netanyahu's speech to Congress cannot be readily ignored by President Obama: How a deal might enhance Iran's regional influence; and whether regional wariness of a deal could spur nuclear proliferation. Iran's regional role is an issue that the U.S. has strenuously, and foolishly, sought to separate from the nuclear discussions. This has alarmed the Gulf states who fear that lifting sanctions on Iran and rapprochement with the U.S. would facilitate Iranian expansionism. The U.S. administration has made it a primary goal to reorient American attention away from the Middle East and reduce the American footprint, and where that was not possible, to define limited goals and share the burden with others. But the outcome may well be an enhanced role for Iran, and this is something Arab states, not to mention Israel, will have great trouble accepting. If the Arabs feel threatened by an Iran that, ultimately, has the means of going nuclear, they will respond in kind by trying to develop their own nuclear capability. This would generate considerable instability and defeat the purpose of a nuclear agreement now. Obama may get his deal with Iran, but he has prepared the terrain so carelessly that the consequences may be quite damaging.