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Saudi Arabia denies flight deal against Iran

Riyadh dismisses as slanderous a report that Israel will be allowed to use its airspace to attack Iran

  • By Duraid Al Baik, Associate Editor
  • Published: 23:54 June 12, 2010

The members of the U.N. Security Council vote on sanctions against Iran
  • Image Credit: AP
  • The members of the U.N. Security Council vote on sanctions against Iran during a session on Wednesday.

Dubai: Gulf states will not support any military action against Iran despite being wary about its nuclear programme, analysts said on Saturday.

"Saudi Arabia will not cooperate with Israel or any other country to attack Iran. We have always advocated a peaceful solution to the Iran crisis," Dr Abdul Aziz Hamad of King Saud University told Gulf News.

Saudi and US defence officials were quoted in a report in The Times as saying that Riyadh will allow Israeli jets to use its airspace if Tel Aviv decides to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

"The Saudis have given their permission for the Israelis to pass over and they will look the other way," the London-based newspaper said, quoting a US defence source.

No support

"They have already done tests to make sure their own jets aren't scrambled and no one gets shot down. This has all been done with the agreement of the [US] State Department," the report said, quoting an unnamed Saudi official.

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However, experts said although Gulf states continue to be concerned about Iran's designs, they would not support any military action against the Islamic republic.

Riad Kahwaji, General Director of the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said the "[Times] report, in my opinion, is part of the psychological warfare between Iran and the US, because there is no need for Saudi-Israeli cooperation to allow the Jewish state to attack Iran."

He said Israel has the capability to attack the four main nuclear targets. "Israel's Dolphin submarines are equipped with cruise missiles capable of hitting the nuclear facilities.

"Three Israeli submarines, which most probably will be used in any military confrontation, are now in the Gulf waters," Kahwaji said.

"In addition to its submarines, Israel has facilities to evade radars and it has refuelling capabilities to fly over the Red Sea," he added.

Dr Mohammad Al Naqbi, Head of the Gulf Negotiation Centre in Abu Dhabi, said there is no doubt that the situation in the Gulf is quite critical and Israel might take advantage of it. But this does not mean the GCC would support the attack or cooperate with Israel, he said.

"In addition to its sub-marines, Israel has facilities to evade radars and it has refuelling capabilities to fly over the Red Sea," he added.

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