"In the foreseeable future, Iran will emerge as the most powerful state in the Persian Gulf region!"

"... A revolutionary theocracy and major world oil supplier, the Islamic Republic of Iran has, since its inception, demanded recognition as a regional power, sought to lead the Muslim world and dreamed of creating an Islamic superpower...
The fall of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt robbed Israel of a stable southern border and the certainties of a 32-year-old peace treaty, while open rebellion in Syria is bringing instability to the Jewish state’s northern border.
When the United States overthrew Iraq’s Saddam Hussein in 2003, it removed an historical barrier to Iran’s regional ambitions, accomplishing in weeks what Iran had failed to do in eight years of brutal war.
Now U.S. troops are withdrawing from Iraq, Washington is leaving behind a Shiite-dominated, Iran-leaning government in Baghdad.
The loss of friendly dictatorships in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya has thrown U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East into flux. Disagreements with Saudi Arabia over the handling of protests in Bahrain and Yemen have also driven a wedge of doubt between the two allies... ... ...
In the foreseeable future, Iran will emerge as the most powerful state in the Persian Gulf region.“As a great civilization with a keen sense of history, Iran has always perceived itself as a rightful leader of the Middle East.”
“Such a development is the natural consequence of its strength and the American policy that has removed all barriers to the assertion of its influence,” said Mr. Takeyh. “The Islamic Republic remains an opportunistic power that will take advantage of more favourable circumstances to project its influence.”