Saudi journalist Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, said in a televised interview that Iran’s actions in the Gulf directly contradict its leadership’s claims of seeking peaceful relations.
He pointed to IRGC attacks on civilian targets in Gulf countries as clear evidence that Tehran’s diplomatic messaging does not match its behavior on the ground.
Abbas stated that even as Iranian President Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of good relations with neighboring states, IRGC operations continued to strike civilian areas. He stressed that claims by Iranian officials that they target only military sites are not credible, given repeated incidents involving civilian harm.
He also addressed the period surrounding the transition in Iran’s leadership following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei. Abbas argued that the idea of a “leadership vacuum” can no longer be used to justify Iran’s actions, as a new leader is now firmly in place. He added that even close regional partners like Oman were not spared, despite diplomatic outreach.
