According to a report by Iranian News Agency IRNA on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, an academic and former member of the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Altuwaijri, has sounded a stark warning about the grave consequences a military confrontation with Iran could have for the wider Middle East. In a detailed interview with Middle East Eye editor-in-chief David Hearst, Altuwaijri said that any foreign attack on Tehran would be a dangerously high‑risk gamble with devastating implications for regional stability.
Altuwaijri stressed that Iran is not comparable to smaller states often targeted by external pressure, such as Venezuela, and said it possesses significant strategic capabilities that could be deployed in response to military aggression. “Iran is not Venezuela. Iran has many cards to use in such a situation, and they are very destructive cards,” he said, highlighting Tehran’s potential to strike U.S. military bases in the region if it believes its very survival is threatened.
Describing the prospect of war with Iran as “completely unrealistic and reckless,” the former official warned that an escalation would endanger not just Iran’s neighbours but also critical global waterways such as the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large portion of the world’s oil supply is transported.
According to Altuwaijri, Iran has multiple response options in the event of an attack, including the possible use of longer‑range ballistic missiles that could create far‑reaching destruction, even extending to neighbouring states. This underscores fears among regional actors that direct military action against Tehran could rapidly spiral into a wider conflict with unpredictable outcomes.
The interview also detailed Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic posture in recent years. Altuwaijri said Riyadh has exerted political influence to prevent military escalation in the Persian Gulf, particularly amid ongoing tensions with Western powers and Israel over Iran’s role in the region.
Beyond the strategic military discussion, Altuwaijri sharply criticised what he described as the lack of global response to the humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. He labelled the ongoing violence there as a “genocide” and said international silence on the matter would be remembered as a stain on humanity.
In his view, the path to lasting peace in the region requires justice for Palestinians, including the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state and equitable solutions for refugees displaced by decades of conflict. Such comments reflect broader frustrations within parts of the Arab world about the geopolitical balance in the Middle East and the perceived impact of external alliances and military strategies……See More
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