Longing for a bonhomie

We want Iran cooperation, not meddling: GCC to Kerry

 Doha

Iran's nuclear deal should bring stability and good neighbourliness rather than interference, Gulf Arab states told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday as they began talks on the merits of its historic accord with world powers.

Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah, welcoming Kerry to Qatar for the talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said the alliance wanted to spare the region "from any dangers and threats from nuclear weapons".

This should be done by authorising the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in line with international rules, he said, speaking for the GCC as host of the meeting. "We look forward with hope to the nuclear agreement ... leading to the preservation of security and stability in the region, and we emphasize the importance of cooperation with Iran based on principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs and solving disputes peacefully."

 Al-Attiyah expressed hope that the nuclear deal concluded between Iran and the world powers in Vienna last month would help maintain security and stability in the region.

 In the meantime, he warned against the repercussions of the failure of the Middle East peace process and the continuation of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, which is the major cause for instability in the region.

 Al-Attiyah urged the US to exert further efforts to restore the peace process to track and to end occupation in line with the international resolutions and the Arab Initiative.

 Speaking in Egypt on Sunday, Kerry said the United States had labeled Iran the world's number-one state sponsor of terror, but this was precisely why it was so important to ensure Tehran did not obtain a nuclear weapon.

 Speaking to reporters in Doha yesterday, Kerry said: “It was crystal clear that the US and GCC regarded their partnership as indispensible for the security of the region".

He added that the US had agreed to speed up the transfer of weapons - including missiles - to its allies in the Gulf, as well as to co-operate more closely with them against Islamic State (IS) militants and al-Qaeda.