Iranian press reports conveyed by Chinese media describe a “massive” six-day military exercise launched by the Iranian navy on Friday. The drills come at a time of generally heightened tensions between Tehran and regional Arab states, and just days after Gulf Cooperation Council states lashed out at Tehran for interfering in their internal affairs and threatening their territorial integrity. Iran’s Arab neighbors have expressed grave concerns about Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, echoing the warnings of Western analysts to the effect that nuclear weapons will give Iran immunity to take over disputed territory it claims for itself, including the entire nation of Bahrain. In July 2010, the UAE’s ambassador to the United States publicly made the case that the benefits of bombing Iran’s nuclear installations outweighed the costs. Leaked cables emerged later that year indicating that Saudi Arabia had privately urged U.S. officials to strike Iran.

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