The Myth of Iranian–Arab Enmity: ADeconstructive Approach

The paper aims to critically consider the proposition maintaining that thecontemporary state of affairs between iran and the arab world results from an endemic, deep-rooted enmity between these two peoples with roots inthe annals of history. to elucidate its argument, the paper offers a briefreview of the major ups and downs in the historical relationship between iranians and arabs to see whether animosity or good-neighbourliness hasmainly prevailed. then, seeking to pinpoint the causes of uneasiness in theiranian-arab relationship since the 1950s, the focus of the paper turns to the formation of pan-arab ideology and its strong anti-iranian elements.major differences in outlooks, coupled with territorial and diplomaticdisagreements, had nasserite egypt and especially ba’athist iraq embrace these elements and begin implementing them to their full and extremeextent at a time when a monarchical west-leaning regime was in power iniran. the paper concludes that the uneasiness in iran-arab relations duringthe past five to six decades has been situational and a modern phenomenon,chiefly stemming from specific political circumstances with certain roots in nation-building activities in the concerned countries. hence, historical andethno-religious or civilizational roots of this strained relationship are eithernon-existent or insignificant.