WASHINGTON – While the media focuses on the aggressive Iranian expansion in the whole Middle East, another insidious campaign is being orchestrated by Iran to control the region. Proselytizing is the new name of the game.

And since, through this Iranian-sponsored operation, Sunnis have been converting to Shiism in significant numbers, Sunni states are starting to react. That could well open a new front in the Sunni-Shiite war.

Of all 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 went further in a recent interview with the Kuwaiti daily Al Seyassah when he 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.

While it looks like ex-Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar is pushing for U.S. military action against Iran, other leaders inside the kingdom are trying to fight off Iran on the religious front. That’s why Rihab Massud, a close advisor to Bandar stated: “Iran will never become the leader of the Islamic world.”

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. Noted Middle East expert Amir Taheri recently acknowledged what he calls the “Iranization” of Syria.

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, as of last September, 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.”

But what remains the most surprising target of Iranian proselytizing is North Africa. Indeed, head of the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood Yusuf al Qaradawi recently denounced the infiltration of Shias 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 decided to cut off diplomatic relations with Iran.

But in the past few years Algerian-Iranian relations were going through a honeymoon period. That is, until a few months ago. In fact, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s trip to Algeria was suddenly cancelled twice in just two months. It would not be far-fetched to think that this has to do with Iran’s aggressive campaign to convert Algerians 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. The fear of the Shiite crescent is alive and kicking, and Washington would be wise to side with the Sunni regimes in order to fend off Iran’s dangerous goals.

Olivier Guitta is a consultant on foreign affairs and counterterrorism in Washington.