Iran nuclear talks failed because Gulf left out: Bahrain
by mahmood on 12/12/09 at 10:16 pm · email · print
Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa addresses the sixth Manama Dialogue security conference in the Bahraini capital. Tehran's talks with the West on the Iranian nuclear programme failed because the Arab states of the Gulf were not involved, Sheikh Khalifa said.
Because the process was flawed, its failure should not result in new sanctions on Iran, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa told the sixth Manama Dialogue.
“Somebody’s trying to do business while we’re not there, while we’re not present in that room,” he said. “This is a fundamental mistake of how these talks were conducted. I think that is the main reason of why the talks failed.”
The talks were only between Iran and the world’s major powers, “not the countries that have the fear of whatever is going on and not being consulted and not being involved,” said Sheikh Khaled, whose country hosts the US Fifth Fleet.
“To move from a wrong system of talks and put sanctions on the people of Iran is not fair,” he said.
On Friday, European leaders backed new sanctions, warning that Tehran’s refusal to negotiate over its nuclear programme must be met with a tough response.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates also said he expected “significant” new measures imposed if Iran fails to live up to commitments, and accused it of “stiffing the international community.”
Many in the West suspect Iran is developing technology to enrich uranium to highly refined levels to covertly build a nuclear bomb, a charge Tehran vehemently denies, saying its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
Neither Israel — widely believed to be the sole, if undeclared, nuclear-armed power in the Middle East — nor the United States has ruled out military action against Iran over its atomic ambitions.
Sheikh Khaled called a possible confrontation between Israel and Iran “perhaps the most fearsome threat to the region.”
“Lives will be lost, vital resources will be put in jeopardy, the world economy will undoubtedly suffer and all our efforts towards regional development and prosperity will be significantly hindered” if such a conflict takes place, he said.
Source: france24.com · 12 Dec 09
