Destruction of Iran's nuclear programme 'good for Arabs'
The destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities would be in the interest of the Arab nations in the Gulf, and it would be “less embarrassing” if it was done by Israel rather than the US, a top Kuwaiti strategist said in remarks published today.
Officially Kuwait, like the other members of the Gulf Co-operation Council, wants a peaceful solution to the nuclear stand-off between Tehran and the West and will not allow the US to use its territories for any attack on Iran.
But when asked in an interview with the daily Al-Siyassah about the consequences of an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear reactors, analyst and former government adviser Sami al-Faraj said it would not be such a bad thing.
“Honestly speaking, they would be achieving something of great strategic value for the GCC by stopping Iran’s tendency for hegemony over the area,” he said, adding that “nipping it in the bud by Israeli hands would be less embarrassing for us” than if the Americans did it.
Mr Al-Faraj said Tehran was interfering in Iraq, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories, and inciting strife between Sunnis and Shiites.
“The question is what would it do if it were a nuclear nation? We have to call a spade a spade and say that burying the military nuclear Iranian project is in the interest of GCC states,” and other countries in the area, added Mr al-Faraj, who heads the independent Kuwait Centre for Strategy Studies.
Tehran has denied it is seeking nuclear weapons and insists its programme is for peaceful purposes. Despite three sets of United Nations sanctions, it is still defying demands to suspend uranium enrichment.
GCC countries --Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain – have announced they want to use nuclear energy for civilian uses as well.
Mr Al-Faraj told the daily the GCC “offered” to cooperate with Tehran on a joint nuclear fuel station, but Iran turned down the offer.
Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar all host US military facilities.
