Libyan author Muhammad Abd Al-Muttalib Al-Houni said in a March 14, 2026 interview on Alghad TV that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are primarily directed against Arab nations in the Gulf rather than Israel, warning that Tehran seeks regional domination and a revival of its historic empire.
Al-Houni contrasted what he described as two competing models in the Middle East: the ideology of Ayatollah Khomeini, which he characterized as rooted in “death, conflict, hostility, and contempt,” and the approach of UAE founder Sheikh Zayed, which he said represents normalization, peace, and coexistence. He argued that current tensions in the Gulf reflect a broader struggle between these two visions.
According to Al-Houni, Iran views the Gulf as its natural sphere of influence and seeks to control it, driven by what he described as longstanding Persian ambitions. He also claimed that Iran’s nuclear project is aimed at intimidating Arab states, adding that lessons from Saddam Hussein’s era demonstrate how unchecked regional power can escalate into broader conflict.
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