They're not pretending to be powerless, they are powerless. They have an economic stronghold on the local market but does not have any political respect due to their isolationist approach. Bankrolling Egypt? Is that supposed to be an achievement to gain regional power? Egypt is nada right now, plus the only reason they WERE getting bankrolled was due to SA wanting a Muslim nation, we saw how that went. They're remedial in their thinking where religion = support which has held them back for as long as I can remember.
Also, has anyone mentioned a muslim country that is against Iran yet?