GCC chief blasts Tehran

Gulf Times-Qatar:28 November, 2005

THE GCC Secretary General, HE Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah, yesterday blasted Iran “for its unjustified nuclear ambitions and interference in the internal matters of GCC member countries.”

“Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose a threat to member countries of the GCC and Nato. It can also endanger global security,” al-Attiyah said.

“Tehran’s nuclear ambitions can start a nuclear race in the region and it would also create mistrust in its relations with the GCC states.”

Addressing the delegates to the ‘Nato and the Broader Middle East, The Role of Parliamentarians’ Conference’ he said “Tehran’s nuclear and regional ambitions would force the GCC states to stick even more together and consolidate their security agreements with the Western powers.”

The GCC chief criticised Iran for its interference in Iraq’s domestic affairs, especially in the south. He also accused Iran of interfering in the internal matters of GCC countries, from time to time.

He said it was vital for GCC countries to discuss Tehran’s policies, because Iran’s geographical proximity constitutes a direct threat to the security of the region.

Al-Attiyah urged Tehran to open a dialogue with the GCC member states and not to interfere in their domestic affairs.

Referring to the political dispute between the UAE and Iran on the issue of sovereignty over three Gulf islands, al-Attiyah criticised Iran for its refusal to accept Abu Dhabi’s proposals on the issue and ignoring GCC summit recommendations for a peaceful settlement.

Al-Attiyah’s statement was described as the strongest criticism of Iran from a top-ranking GCC official for a long time, said observers.