Lebanese journalist Nadim Koteich delivers a sharp assessment of the current regional war, arguing that Iran is no longer seen as a distant or indirect threat—but as a direct and central enemy across much of the Middle East.
In his discussion with Robert Satloff, the focus turns to how this conflict could reshape regional thinking for decades. A key point raised is the dramatic shift in how countries like the United Arab Emirates now view Iran—not as a rival to manage quietly, but as a strategic threat that must be confronted.
Recent developments reinforce this shift. Iran’s large-scale attacks on Gulf infrastructure and economic targets have shaken long-standing assumptions in the region, pushing even previously cautious states toward a more openly adversarial stance.
The conversation suggests that this war may ultimately be remembered as the moment when parts of the Arab world and Israel found themselves aligned—facing a common enemy in Iran—marking a historic realignment in Middle Eastern geopolitics.