Monday, April 18, 2011

Growing Tensions in Persian Gulf

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today accused the US of creating tensions between Iran and the Arabs. The statement came after the GCC urged the Iranian government to stop interfering in the internal affairs of its member states.

"America and its allies are trying to create an Iranian-Arab tension, they seek to sow discord among Shiites and Sunnis. But their plan will fail," Ahmadinejad said at Iran’s annual Military Day parade [IRIB, 18 April].

The statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), an alliance of six Arab states in the Persian Gulf, was issued on Sunday, mainly in reference to Iran's policies in Bahrain.

“The international community and the UN Security Council (should) take the necessary measures to make flagrant Iranian interference and provocations aimed at sowing discord and destruction among GCC member states,” the statement said [AFP, 17 April].

In a related development, Saudi Arabia threatened today to withdraw its diplomatic mission from Iran if the Iranian government do not provide security and safety for its diplomats. Iranians have been demonstrating in front of Saudi embassy in Tehran, and last week they threw firebombs inside the embassy compound.

"I hope we won't be obliged to withdraw our diplomatic mission from Tehran if Iran fails to take the necessary measures to protect it," deputy foreign minister Prince Turki bin Mohammed told reporters in Riyadh [AFP, 18 April].

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

all to keep the oil price up ...

Nader Uskowi said...

That's a risky way to keep oil prices up! The global economy is improving compared to last year, and that fact alone will keep the price of oil high, no need to start regional conflicts.

Anonymous said...

Ask Halliburton and co... the reason.

Iran and the Arabs are proffitng