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EU, US meet Arab ministers to allay fears on Iran

US and European officials met Arab foreign ministers on Sunday to allay concerns that the West's focus on halting Iran's nuclear ambitions may leave Tehran's quest for more regional influence unchecked.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 17:53 November 9, 2008
  • Gulf News

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt: US and European officials met Arab foreign ministers on Sunday to allay concerns that the West's focus on halting Iran's nuclear ambitions may leave Tehran's quest for more regional influence unchecked.

Javier Solana, the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief, said he told the ministers that talks with Iran about its disputed nuclear programme were at "an impasse" but that he hoped for a new round of negotiations.

The meeting was attended by foreign ministers from Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, Morocco and Bahrain as well as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

A senior US official told reporters Rice had discerned worry among the Arab ministers that the West, and particularly the Europeans, did not fully understand their concerns about Iran's regional ambitions.

Solana said Sunday's talks at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh was held at the request of the Arab ministers.

Solana, Rice and Kouchner were in Egypt to attend the meeting of the Quartet of Middle East negotiators, which comprises the European Union, United Nations, Russia and the United States.

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