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Kuwait, Qatar Welcome Iran N-Deal
RIYADH SEES SCOPE FOR WIDER NUCLEAR SOLUTION
DUBAI, Nov 25, (Agencies): Gulf Arab countries Qatar and Kuwait have came out in favour of Iran’s agreement with world powers over its nuclear programme, saying they hoped it would help to preserve stability and security in the region. Iran’s Arab neighbours are deeply uneasy about Tehran’s diplomatic rehabilitation and have done little to hide their scepticism as talks progressed on the nuclear deal in recent weeks, but at least in public many have now given their support. Iran’s only two Arab friends — Iraq and Syria — were quick to praise the deal on Sunday, as was the Palestinian Authority which welcomed it for putting pressure on Israel. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also spoke out in support. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled al-Jarallah said he hoped the agreement “would pave the way for a permanent accord that would defuse tension, and preserves the stability and security of the region,” according to state news agency KUNA. Qatar said the agreement was “an important step towards safeguarding peace and stability in the region”, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry posted on its website late on Sunday. “The State of Qatar calls for making the Middle East a nuclear weapon-free zone,” the ministry said.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, gave a qualified welcome on Monday to Tehran’s interim deal with world powers over its disputed nuclear programme. US-allied Saudi Arabia, locked in a struggle with Iran for influence across the Middle East, is worried that its adversary is secretly seeking atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies. “If there was goodwill, this agreement could represent a preliminary step towards a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear programme,” Saudi Arabia’s cabinet said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA. The kingdom said it hoped further steps would follow that would guarantee the rights of all states in the region to peaceful nuclear energy. Earlier, Qatar and Kuwait came out in favour of the deal struck on Sunday after marathon talks in Geneva, saying they hoped it would help to preserve regional stability and security. Israel condemned the agreement between Iran and world powers as a historic mistake that left the production of atomic weapons within Tehran’s reach, and said it would not be bound by it. The rulers of Saudi Arabia and some other Sunni-ruled Gulf monarchies fear Western detente with Shi’ite Iran could relieve pressure on Tehran and allow it more leeway in the Arab world. They say Iran already dominates Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government of Iraq, uses Hezbollah to pursue its interests in Lebanon and Syria, and backs Shi’ite protests in Bahrain, as well as Houthi Shi’ite rebels in northern Yemen. On Sunday a senior Saudi foreign policy adviser said he was deeply concerned that the deal could give Iran more scope to extend its power in Arab countries, signalling Riyadh’s unease at the possibility of a Western rapprochement with Tehran. “The government of Iran, month after month, has proven that it has an ugly agenda in the region, and in this regard no one in the region will sleep and assume things are going smoothly,” said Abdullah al-Askar, chairman of the foreign foreign affairs committee in the Shoura Council, an appointed quasi-parliament that advises the government on policy. Saudi Arabia and Qatar support Sunniled rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Iran and a member of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. Oman, which had hosted US and Iranian officials for secret talks that paved the way for the agreement, said it “hopes the interim agreement... will contribute to achieving peace and stability in the region”, according to state news agency ONA.
Sanctions
The European Union could lift some sanctions on Iran next month, France said Monday, as world powers geared up to implement a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran while trying to placate a furious Israel. Iran and the major powers have hailed Sunday’s deal in Geneva under which Tehran agreed to curb a nuclear programme the West suspects aims to develop an atomic bomb, in return for an easing of crippling sanctions. But Iran’s arch-foe Israel — an ally of many of the six countries who negotiated the accord, including France and the United States — blasted the accord as a “historic mistake”. It reserved the right to defend itself against any threats made by Tehran. In a radio interview, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said EU foreign ministers were to meet next month to discuss lifting some sanctions as part of the deal, a move he said could take place “in December”. But a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton sought to dampen expectations that a firm decision would be taken at the next foreign ministers’ gathering due on December 16. “It could be in December, it could be in January, it depends on how long the process takes,” he said. One senior Western diplomat, who refused to be named, told AFP the focus in the coming weeks would be “swift implementation”.
Kuwait, Qatar welcome Iran N-deal
RIYADH SEES SCOPE FOR WIDER NUCLEAR SOLUTION
DUBAI, Nov 25, (Agencies): Gulf Arab countries Qatar and Kuwait have came out in favour of Iran’s agreement with world powers over its nuclear programme, saying they hoped it would help to preserve stability and security in the region. Iran’s Arab neighbours are deeply uneasy about Tehran’s diplomatic rehabilitation and have done little to hide their scepticism as talks progressed on the nuclear deal in recent weeks, but at least in public many have now given their support. Iran’s only two Arab friends — Iraq and Syria — were quick to praise the deal on Sunday, as was the Palestinian Authority which welcomed it for putting pressure on Israel. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also spoke out in support. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled al-Jarallah said he hoped the agreement “would pave the way for a permanent accord that would defuse tension, and preserves the stability and security of the region,” according to state news agency KUNA. Qatar said the agreement was “an important step towards safeguarding peace and stability in the region”, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry posted on its website late on Sunday. “The State of Qatar calls for making the Middle East a nuclear weapon-free zone,” the ministry said.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, gave a qualified welcome on Monday to Tehran’s interim deal with world powers over its disputed nuclear programme. US-allied Saudi Arabia, locked in a struggle with Iran for influence across the Middle East, is worried that its adversary is secretly seeking atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies. “If there was goodwill, this agreement could represent a preliminary step towards a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear programme,” Saudi Arabia’s cabinet said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA. The kingdom said it hoped further steps would follow that would guarantee the rights of all states in the region to peaceful nuclear energy. Earlier, Qatar and Kuwait came out in favour of the deal struck on Sunday after marathon talks in Geneva, saying they hoped it would help to preserve regional stability and security. Israel condemned the agreement between Iran and world powers as a historic mistake that left the production of atomic weapons within Tehran’s reach, and said it would not be bound by it. The rulers of Saudi Arabia and some other Sunni-ruled Gulf monarchies fear Western detente with Shi’ite Iran could relieve pressure on Tehran and allow it more leeway in the Arab world. They say Iran already dominates Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government of Iraq, uses Hezbollah to pursue its interests in Lebanon and Syria, and backs Shi’ite protests in Bahrain, as well as Houthi Shi’ite rebels in northern Yemen. On Sunday a senior Saudi foreign policy adviser said he was deeply concerned that the deal could give Iran more scope to extend its power in Arab countries, signalling Riyadh’s unease at the possibility of a Western rapprochement with Tehran. “The government of Iran, month after month, has proven that it has an ugly agenda in the region, and in this regard no one in the region will sleep and assume things are going smoothly,” said Abdullah al-Askar, chairman of the foreign foreign affairs committee in the Shoura Council, an appointed quasi-parliament that advises the government on policy. Saudi Arabia and Qatar support Sunniled rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Iran and a member of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. Oman, which had hosted US and Iranian officials for secret talks that paved the way for the agreement, said it “hopes the interim agreement... will contribute to achieving peace and stability in the region”, according to state news agency ONA.
Sanctions
The European Union could lift some sanctions on Iran next month, France said Monday, as world powers geared up to implement a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran while trying to placate a furious Israel. Iran and the major powers have hailed Sunday’s deal in Geneva under which Tehran agreed to curb a nuclear programme the West suspects aims to develop an atomic bomb, in return for an easing of crippling sanctions. But Iran’s arch-foe Israel — an ally of many of the six countries who negotiated the accord, including France and the United States — blasted the accord as a “historic mistake”. It reserved the right to defend itself against any threats made by Tehran. In a radio interview, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said EU foreign ministers were to meet next month to discuss lifting some sanctions as part of the deal, a move he said could take place “in December”. But a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton sought to dampen expectations that a firm decision would be taken at the next foreign ministers’ gathering due on December 16. “It could be in December, it could be in January, it depends on how long the process takes,” he said. One senior Western diplomat, who refused to be named, told AFP the focus in the coming weeks would be “swift implementation”.
Kuwait, Qatar welcome Iran N-deal
