The success of this Iranian-sponsored operation has pushed Sunni states to react. Of all the Sunni countries, Saudi Arabia is the one feeling the most threatened by this new wave of Shiite proselytizing. "If it's not to export the revolution like in the time of the Khomeini regime, Shiism exportation – as we see it today – is still unacceptable," noted Saudi Social Affairs Minister Abdel Mohsen al-Hakas.

Interestingly, Saudi King Abdullah accused Shiites of trying to convert Sunnis and added that he knew exactly who was behind this campaign, clearly pointing his finger at Tehran. It is a vital issue for the kingdom, which does not want more potential destabilization, since its own Shiite minority already represents 10 percent of the total population and is located in the oil-rich region of the country.

The other Sunni super power in the region, Egypt, is also feeling the Shiite heat. That is why several Egyptian leaders have warned about the slow insidious infiltration of society by Tehran-sponsored forces. For example, they point out to the fact that groups of Shiite preachers are present in numerous Egyptian towns striving to convert local residents.

And yet another country, which is also clearly a target of Iranian proselytizing, is Syria. According to some recent reports, Iran gives $10,000 to each Syrian family that converts to Shiism. For instance, Syria has lifted the ban on Shiite proselytization and therefore allowed hundreds of Iranian mullahs to convert Syrian Sunnis, including huge numbers of Alawites, President Bashar Assad's own sect. Iran has also set up 11 centers of Khomeinist indoctrination in cities other than Damascus and, according to Taheri, 17,000 Syrians had enrolled to follow classes there. Last but not least Taheri noticed the number of men and women in the streets conforming to the Khomeinist "look."

Iran is also very active in the Palestinian territories. Using large funding, Iran is financing conversions to Shiism. For example, a large portion of the Islamic Jihad movement is already converted. Also Hamas has been a recipient of Tehran's financial largesse and has therefore undergone an insidious conversion campaign. It is interesting to note that Hamas' spiritual father, Ahmed Yassin, had made a point to ban any funds coming from Iran for fear of having to "sell his soul."

But what remains the most surprising target of Iranian proselytizing is Africa. Indeed, one of the leaders of the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, Yusuf al Qaradawi, recently denounced the infiltration of Shiites in exclusively Sunni countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. This phenomenon has been the most visible in Algeria. There, a number of Shiite groups, mostly headed by ex-students of the main Shiite religious university based in Qom, Iran, have been actively recruiting new converts. This reminds Algerian authorities of what happened in the beginning of the 1990s when Iranian embassy personnel clearly meddled in Islamist movements. At that time, to protest, Algeria cut off diplomatic relations with Iran.

In Morocco, the estimates put at 7,000 the number of recent converts to Shiism. Also the first ever Shiite newspaper was recently launched and was quickly sold out. But most troublesome for the Moroccan authorities has been the dismantling at the beginning of the year of the largest terrorist cell, known as the Belliraj network. Members of this cell included Shiite personalities such as the correspondent of Al-Manar, Hezbollah's TV station.

But Iran, sometimes through its proxy Hezbollah, is not only targeting the Maghreb but also black Africa. In fact, recent photographs have shown several Hezbollah demonstrations led by locals in various African capitals. Recently a European diplomat confirmed this phenomenon underlining that the Iranian influence is huge and that there are scores of paid conversions to Shiism.

Iran's double-thronged strategy of aggressive military expansion and extensive proselytizing is clearly aimed at controlling not only the Gulf but also potentially the whole Islamic world. This is clearly worrying countries from Saudi Arabia to Algeria who will have to react one way or another to defend their countries physically and spiritually. This proves once more that Iran is far from being just a source of concern in Western capitals but also in large portions of the Muslim world.

Olivier Guitta, an adjunct fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a foreign affairs and counterterrorism consultant, is the founder of the newsletter The Croissant (www.thecroissant.com).