Iran is to the Arab world, like Israel is to the Western World.

If you think about it, this is a very accurate comparison.

Consider all this:

• Iran is vilified by most of the world.
• Iranians are not Arabs, yet live smack in the Arab Middle East.
• Much of Iran practices a variant religion different from those around them.
• Iran is under economic boycott from multiple nations.
• Iran is forced to find creative ways to build advanced weapons systems, despite the boycott.
• Iran has invested highly in developing their technology sector (even if it is all for war).
• The states in the region all hate Iran, but are afraid of it.
• Iran has been in wars with its Arab neighbors.
• One of Iran’s major exports is weapon systems.
• Iran’s patron is a superpower.
• Iran is a regional leader.
• Iran’s allies wouldn’t mind seeing it sacrificed for their own good.
  

What does this all actually mean?

I don’t know, but I think it is interesting that Iran as a state can really be differentiated from all the Arab states around it, and that in many ways, Iran is similar to Israel.

Perhaps it is part of the national culture, or world outlook.

Perhaps that is simply the role of a regional superpower.