Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said Iran made a major strategic mistake by extending its military actions to Gulf countries, warning that the move has reinforced perceptions of Tehran as a destabilising force in the Middle East.
Rice made the remark during an interview on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News on Thursday, March 5, 2026, while discussing the ongoing regional tensions involving Iran and U.S. allies.
According to the former diplomat, Tehran’s decision to attack Gulf states significantly worsened the geopolitical situation in the region and strengthened the argument among Western allies that Iran poses a broader security threat.
“I think the Iranians made a strategic blunder by attacking Gulf states such as the UAE, Kuwait, and others,” Rice said.
She suggested that the attacks demonstrated Iran’s willingness to project military influence beyond its borders and reinforced fears among neighbouring countries about the country’s regional ambitions.
Rice noted that such actions contribute to the perception that Iran is seeking to destabilise the Middle East, particularly by threatening countries that maintain close security partnerships with the United States and other Western allies.
The former national security adviser argued that the development underscores the wider concern among policymakers that Iran’s military posture is not limited to its domestic territory but extends to activities that could affect regional stability.
Her comments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and ongoing debates in the United States and among its allies about the long-term implications of military actions aimed at curbing Iran’s capabilities.
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