Iran faces internal protests by exporting crises to Arab Gulf countries for three reasons

The observer of Iran’s regional policies in general, and towards the Arab Gulf countries in particular, from 1979 until now, finds that the strategy of exporting crises has been and still is one of the prominent aspects of those policies. Its essence lies in Iran’s attempt to divert attention from domestic political currents, especially those opposing the Iranian government’s policies. Iran portrays an external imaginary threat that jeopardizes Iranian national security, necessitating the imperative support of those currents for governmental policies. This strategy became evident during the protests in Iran since September 16, 2022, following the killing of Mahsa Amini by the morality police, allegedly for violating the rules of wearing the hijab.

What are the contents of this strategy? How has Iran sought to leverage it to threaten the security of the Arab Gulf by exporting its internal crises? What is its impact on issues related to the security of the Arab Gulf?

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