Mahmoud Short RoundAhmadinejad's face last week.
Within days, they neutralised one of his trump cards, placed him in a Shakespearian "to do or not to do" situation, and exposed his hypocrisy.
The uprisings against Libya's Muammar Qadaffy and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa especially triggered the backlash against Ahmadinejad.
Of course, most Arab nations, especially the Sunni-dominated one, have always been wary of Iran. They got an opportunity to make concrete the wariness.
Since coming to power in 2005, Ahmadinejad has made denunciation of Western nations' real and imagined imperialism a trump card.
To him, Western nation's sole business is to dominate and exploit other nations.
In the Middle East, Western nations simply want to take over petroleum. Hence, in concert with Ahmadnejad's bogeyman, "the Zionist regime" the West constantly interfere in internal affairs of nations there.
What Ahmadinejad doesn't say is that nations, including Iran, either singly or jointly, have interests in various parts of the world. Inevitably, singly, or jointly, they poke noses into other nations' affairs.
For historical reasons and a largely gullible citizenry--especially when "War against Islam" laces propaganda-- Ahmadinejad's message plays well in the Mohammedan world. The fervent the faithful, the firmer the hold.
As Colonel Qadaffy intensified attacks against disaffected citizens, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran's neighbours, fired the first salvo at Ahmadnejad's trump card.
They supported a no-fly zone over Libya. Britain and La Belle France were the leading proponents of the idea.
Soon after, the 22-nation Arab League, with three exceptions, followed suit. On Friday, the UN Security Council declared a no-fly zone and authorised international attacks against pro-Qadaffy forces.
A chagrined Ahmadinejad is now watching "imperialist" forces blow up targets in Libya, possibly including Qadaffy's famous tent.
Then came Bahrain. Early last week, King Al-Khalifa had enough of demonstrations. He got help from the Gulf council. The Sunni-dominated Soddy Arabia led the rescue force.
Ahmadinejad's biases for Shiite Mohammedans are well known. Now he had Sunni rulers clobbering Shiites next door.
Were he to send troops to help, the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain will cook up a "threat." Iran would get a bruising. For Ahmadinejad, "not to do" seems to be the only option.
Lamely, Iran called the Gulf action an "invasion." Yet the member countries have a defence pact. Ahmadinejad said regional nations hold the United States answerable for the "invasion" as if the Gulf nations aren't regional.
Since the uprisings in the Arab world erupted in Tunisia in January, Ahmadinejad has been effusive with praise.
Ostensibly, he saw the will of the people prevailing. Yet Iranian forces have ruthlessly suppressed protests that have punctuated Ahmadinejad's rule.
Yes, other peoples can protest to express their will, but not the Iranians. That's hypocrisy par excellence.