An Iranian lawmaker says Iran assures its Arab neighbors that a possible agreement over Tehran’s nuclear energy program will benefit regional countries.
“We must expand our relations with Persian Gulf littoral states in such a way that they also feel assured they will benefit from this deal,” said member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Abbasali Mansouri Arani on Saturday.
“The Persian Gulf littoral states feel that Iran’s power will grow as a result of the deal and that can overshadow their position in political, economic and regional aspects,” the Iranian lawmaker said.
Mansouri Arani pointed to the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy doctrine of giving priority to the expansion of ties with neighboring countries and noted that, relying on dialogue and enhancement of relations, Tehran can assure the Arab states that the further consolidation of Iran’s power will be to their own benefit.

As Iran’s nuclear talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, France, Britain and China, plus Germany are achieving substantive progress; some of the Persian Gulf Arab states have shown signs of opposition to a breakthrough.

In the course of Tehran’s latest round of negotiations with the sextet in Geneva last week, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa criticized Iran’s recent interactions with the US.

Meanwhile analysts say Saudi Arabia is using a planned arms deal with France as leverage to trigger Paris to create hurdles in the way of the potential nuclear deal.

On October 7, Le Drian French Defense Minister and his Saudi counterpart Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz concluded a USD 1.5 billion agreement with Saudi Arabia to overhaul six of its naval vessels, including four frigates and two refueling ships.

During Le Drian’s visit to Saudi AraAbia, the French and Saudi defense chiefs also discussed other hefty defense contracts, including a USD 2.72-billion deal for modernizing Saudi air defenses under which Paris will supply Riyadh with new generation Crotale surface-to-air rockets.

France has been one of the main reasons behind the failure of the six countries involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran to reach a possible nuclear agreement with Tehran.

The next round of the negotiations between Iran and the six countries is slated to be held in Geneva on November 20.

By Press TV

 

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