Part 9/14:
The opinions of neighboring countries—Saudis, Jordanians, and others—are also examined. These nations, wary of Iran’s influence, secretly hope for regime change but are cautious about openly supporting a destabilization that might backfire. Many regional actors are driven by fears of Iran’s ideological expansion and the violence it perpetuates through proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Ahmadore notes that some Gulf monarchies live in fear of internal unrest fueled by Iranian-backed fundamentalism. Despite their public alliances with the West, these countries are secretly hoping for a change that would diminish Iran’s regional hegemony without provoking a full-blown crisis.