Military-Security Relations between the United States and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council after September 11th

This article studies the security-military relations between the United States and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) in order to identify its consequences for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s national security. Statistics indicate that the PGCC members have made efforts, following the September 11th events, to boost their military-security ties with the United States, though Saudi-US relationships have been subject to a strategic contradiction. Such facts especially the presence of US military forces in the Iraqi territory have led to the military encirclement of Iran and on the other hand it succeeded at preserving and enhancing its security and international status by affirming the war on terrorism led by the United Nations. This will require efforts at adopting an appropriate strategy in foreign policy intended to take advantage of the existing conditions.