Two Saudi fishing vessels have been seized by the Iranian coast guard, heightening tensions between the two regional rivals. Tehran is increasingly at odds with the Gulf Arab states, and in December the Gulf Cooperation Council lashed out at the Islamic republic for interfering in the internal affairs of Gulf states and for engaging in “continued occupation of… three Emirati islands.” Arab states including the UAE and Saudi Arabia have expressed fears that an Iranian nuclear weapon would give Tehran immunity to expand its territorial claims, which include the entire nation of Bahrain, and have publicly and privately urged the U.S. to militarily degrade Iran’s nuclear facilities if necessary.

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