Iran nuclear plan 'not worrisome'

Abu Dhabi: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdul Rahman Hamad Al Attiyah said on Sunday that the GCC countries are not concerned over Iran's nuclear programme, if it is limited only to peaceful applications.

However, he continued, "if it was otherwise, I personally believe, than that the issue is not justified, and it cannot be left as it is because it affects the international peace and security", he responded to a question by Gulf News.

"We have confidence in Iran, but we don't want to see the Iranian nuclear reactor, which is closer to our coasts than the distance between it and Tehran, as a cause of danger to us", Al Attiyah told a small group of journalists in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of "Fahd Summit".

Al Attiyah also said the standoff between Tehran and the West over its nuclear programme should be resolved through reason and logic, adding that collective efforts to free the Gulf and Middle East region of nuclear weapons are needed.

The Gulf region is unique and vital to the world, as it is the major reservoir for the energy supply.

Accordingly, its stability is equally vital.

Both Iran and EU are scheduled to resume their talks in Vienna, Austria on December 21 at the experts' level after a five-month break.

The European countries have been offering Iran incentives to suspend all nuclear activities, including uranium conversion. But Tehran has rejected the offer saying it has the right to develop its nuclear programme for peaceful purposes. It rejected US accusations that it is developing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the GCC countries are concerned because of possible ramifications over the issue, noted analysts.

"While the GCC countries have always been apprehensive about Iran, they will not like to be in a situation where they are forced sides yet again", wrote Abdul Aziz Saqr, Chairman of the Gulf Research Centre, in a recently published article.

"True, the GCC countries reject any nuclear threat from its neighbour, at the same time, they also reject any aggressive intent against Iran," he continued.

Saqr expressed his strong belief that the GCC bloc should play a bigger effort in "removing any misunderstanding with Iran, and that the EU must make use of this opportunity and facilitate the presence of the bloc in the talks, as "the presence of another bloc in the bloc in the form of the GCC could add further impetus to the process of resolving the crisis."

But Al Attiyah replied to a question on whether the GCC would play a role in mediation by saying, "I think the Americans don't need mediation from the Gulf" region.

He reiterated his earlier call for all the countries of the Gulf region, Iraq and Yemen to sign an agreement making the whole region free of weapons of mass destruction.

"By doing so, all parties would prove their genuineness and truthfulness. Also, the international community should pressure Israel to sign the international agreements on limiting nuclear weapons," he added.

Al Attiyah underlined that the summit will discuss ways of enhancing ties with Iran in the perspective of Islamic fraternity and friendship.

He pointed out that Iran's continued occupation of the three UAE islands remains in the framework of repeated and sincere UAE calls for direct peaceful negotiations on the three islands, or referring the issue to the International Court of Justice to enable the UAE to regain its sovereignty over the isles.

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