Political Cartoons II: Iran and the Arabs

            The following political cartoons illustrate Iranian views of Arab reactions to progress on solving the nuclear dispute. Many Iranians viewed the Geneva nuclear agreement as a victory for Tehran and a setback for the Gulf states.  

            An Arab representing the Gulf sheikhdoms is enraged over the Geneva nuclear agreement. He tries to pick a tool of destruction to sabotage the deal. (Source: Saeed Sadeghi for Edalat Press)
 
            The figure on the far right represents the Gulf states. He tags along with representatives of the world’s six major powers on their way to nuclear negotiations with Iran. The Iranian negotiator on the left appears to be puzzled by the Arab’s presence. The cartoon references Saudi Arabian Prince Turki al Faisal’s suggestion to include the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in talks with Iran. (Source: Peyman Alishahi for Fars News Agency)
 
            A figure representing a Saudi prince applies ice to his head, which aches from all the talk about the P5+1 talks with Iran and the GCC’s exclusion. (Source: Saeed Sadeghi for Fars News Agency)
 
            A figure representing Saudi Arabia pushes a shopping cart with a nuclear bomb presumably bought from its ally Pakistan. “We are not going to sit idly by and receive a threat there and not think seriously how we can best defend our country and our region,” Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz told the Times of London just before the Geneva talks. (Source: Javad Takjoo for Fars News Agency)

 

Faris Al Sulayman, a research assistant at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, contributed to this roundup.