It is in the best interest of countries of the Arabian Gulf region that problems and issues of differences are resolved amicably and through peaceful means.
When it comes to Iran's nuclear programme, the most practical approach is one that is not confrontational or sensational.
The US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) has reported that Iran halted its nuclear programme since 2003. Although the programme is built for peaceful purposes, the NIE warns of the possibility that Iran could shift gears and still pursue the military option. US President George W. Bush reacted to the report by encouraging the international community to keep pressure on Iran.
The issue at hand here is not about the accuracy or misinformation of various Western intelligence reports. What is more important is that the stance of the American administration should not be adopted by the international community as the agenda for action against Iran. A position of neutrality, maturity and objectivity in dealing with the controversial programme has been adopted by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
"We cannot afford to follow certain international strategies that could harm our interests. We don't have any information on the Iranian programme except what the Iranian and the International Atomic Energy Agency say that it is a peaceful project, to which we believe they have the right," said Qatari Prime Minister Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem Al Thani during the recent GCC summit in Doha.
The GCC nations have so far followed a practical and pragmatic policy in handling Iran's nuclear programme. For it to succeed, it is critical that such an approach is backed by a position of non-interference by the US and equally, by a policy of transparency and cooperation from the Iranian side.
