Iraq's allies (China, Russia, France and other nations that Iraq owes a lot of money to or want to do business with) are openly criticizing an invasion of Iraq, but at the same time are openly urging Iraq to allow arms inspectors back and, in general, to drop support for terrorists. The Gulf Arab states are also against an invasion of Iraq, fearing the loss of a major counterbalance to an increasingly aggressive Iran. For thousands of years, the Iranians have generally had their way with the Arabs in this part of the world, and the Gulf Arabs fear that Iran, if not restrained, would try to take over the entire Gulf region.