Thursday, January 19, 2012

Iran FM Warns Arab States of the Persian Gulf

Aligning with US “Dangerous”

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi warned Arab neighbors today not to put themselves in a “dangerous position” by aligning themselves too closely with the US in the escalating dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.

“We want peace and tranquility in the region. But some of the countries in our region, they want to (be aligned with) other countries 12,000 miles away from this region,” Salehi said in English during an interview with Turkey’s NTV. “I am calling to all countries in the region, please don't let yourselves be dragged into a dangerous position,” Salehi added [NTV/Reuters, 19 January].

Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if impending sanctions would disrupt Iranian oil exports.

Saudi Arabia said earlier this week that it could swiftly raise oil output for key customers if needed; that is if the Iranian oil exports were embargoed.

Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano was quoted by the Financial Times Deutschland today as suggesting that Iran was in the process of building nuclear weapons.

“What we know suggests the development of nuclear weapons,” Amano said. “We want to check over everything that could have a military dimension.” [Reuters, 19 January].

An IAEA delegation, headed by Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts, will visit Tehran on 29-31 January to seek explanations for intelligence information indicating Iran has engaged in research and development applicable to nuclear weapons.

Iran denies building or wanting bombs, saying it is enriching high-grade uranium only for electricity generation and medical applications.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Islamic fascist theocracy's ally Syria is crumbling and the Islamic regime itself is in flux and also in a state of putrefaction ready for its burial. Yet these charlatans warn the Arab states of the Persian gulf not to align themselves to closely to the US.
Really one doesn't know to laugh or to cry out loud at these jokers.

Anonymous said...

Actually that's more of a reprove, than an outright "warning."

Anonymous said...

The Jokers across the Persian Gulf or better known as "Kingdoms of Corruption" with hundreds of "Royal Hypocrites" with their many wives, toys... and creators of "Wahhabism" and its unique "terrorism" are truly the root of many problems in the region and cannot stand US/Iran to have a better relationship and will do their utmost to deny that.