Nargis Bajoli

And that is sort of the big question right now is can they deliver on that?

The United States began to set up its security architecture in the Middle East.

starting with the first Gulf War, in which it really began to establish its permanent military bases in the Arab Gulf regions.

The promise was, bring in U.S.

military bases.

We will guarantee your safety, and we will also bring you into the American fold.

You'll have great business opportunities.

You'll make a ton of money.

What we now see is that the Gulf understands that having American bases means

is actually a liability because the United States started a war without consulting them.

It was not able to protect any of these Gulf countries and their economies.

Iran is the size of Western Europe.

I feel like we forget that a lot in the United States.

But the reality is, is Iran is a massive country geographically.

It's a massive country population-wise.

And so the Gulf countries need to figure out a way to live with Iran that is no longer guaranteed through a big brother protection of the United States that actually didn't materialize.

So moving forward, first of all, it seems like the Gulf Arab countries have come to this realization, some quicker than others, but...

In essence, they are making payments to Iran now.

They're figuring out ways to be able to sort of co-live with them into the future without Iran being isolated like it was in the past.

That's a huge difference.