Iran warns GCC states not to back 'American plots'

Tehran: Iran's parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani warned Iran will not forgive Gulf Arab nations if they continue backing US "plots" against Tehran, local media reported yesterday.

"We recommend to some of the countries in the region who were siding with [Iraq president] Saddam [Hussain] and now are siding with the US plots against the Iranian nation to give it up," he was quoted as saying.

"Iran will not forgive them again. There will be consequences in the region if new plots against our nation are carried out," Larijani said.

Larijani was referring to the generous financial aid and political support provided by Gulf Arab states, namely Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, to the Iraqi regime during the 1980-1988 war against Iran.

His comments come at a time when the United States and the European Union have imposed new sanctions on Iran's central bank and oil exports over its controversial nuclear programme.

Tehran has called on Saudi Arabia to reconsider a vow to make up for any shortfall in Iran's oil exports due to these new sanctions, saying Riyadh's pledge to intervene on the market was unfriendly.

Ties strained

Long-strained ties between Shiite-dominated Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia deteriorated after Saudi-led troops intervened in Sunni-ruled Bahrain in March to help the government there crush Shiite-led pro-democracy protests.

In addition, the Gulf Cooperation Council comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have called on Iran to "stop interfering in the internal affairs" of their nations.