A certain segment of American and European (as well as some Arab) population seems to believe that the US has ginned up concern over Iran in order to sell arms in the Gulf. This piece, from Arab News, suggests another interpretation: the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia included, have their own concerns about a militarizing Iran. To protect themselves, they are making major purchases of various weapons systems—none of which, incidentally, are particularly useful in quashing internal dissent.

Kingdom to Take Delivery of Eurofighters Next Year
Raid Qusti, Arab News

RIYADH, 27 January 2008 — Saudi Arabia will receive 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft next year, said Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs Prince Khaled ibn Sultan.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multipurpose canard-delta strike fighter aircraft. The aircraft is used by the German Luftwaffe, the Italian Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the UK’s Royal Air Force. It is built in Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain by a consortium involving BAE (BAE Systems), EADS (The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) and Finmeccanica.

The 4.43 billion pound ($8.86 billion) agreement was signed by the government of Saudi Arabia and Britain on Sept. 11 last year.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense and Aviation, the Kingdom will pay the same price for each jet as the Royal Air Force pays.
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Arab News also reports on the agreement between the UAE and France to establish a French military base in the Emirates: A French Base in the Gulf