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Iran seeks tension-easing meeting with Gulf neighbours after nuclear deal Iran seeks tension-easing meeting with Gulf neighbours after nuclear deal
(about 4 hours later)
Efforts are under way to arrange a high-level meeting between Iran and all its Arab Gulf neighbours to ease tensions in the wake of the international agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme and lifting the sanctions imposed because of it.Efforts are under way to arrange a high-level meeting between Iran and all its Arab Gulf neighbours to ease tensions in the wake of the international agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme and lifting the sanctions imposed because of it.
The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, is to visit Qatar next week with a view to arranging a summit with the foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), senior diplomatic sources have told the Guardian. The hope is that the “6 + 1 event” will take place at the UN general assembly in September.The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, is to visit Qatar next week with a view to arranging a summit with the foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), senior diplomatic sources have told the Guardian. The hope is that the “6 + 1 event” will take place at the UN general assembly in September.
Iran has insisted that it wants to improve relations with the Gulf states, though Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, said at the weekend that Tehran would continue to support its “friends” in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. US policies in the region were “180 degrees” opposed to Iran, Khamenei said.Iran has insisted that it wants to improve relations with the Gulf states, though Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, said at the weekend that Tehran would continue to support its “friends” in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. US policies in the region were “180 degrees” opposed to Iran, Khamenei said.
Related: Why Republican promises to scrap Iran nuclear deal may not be metRelated: Why Republican promises to scrap Iran nuclear deal may not be met
Recent months have seen escalating tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, longstanding regional rivals, over the crises in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and the rise of Islamic State. The Saudis, in newly assertive mood since King Salman came to the throne in January, accuse Iran of fomenting sectarian conflict. The Iranians retort that Saudi Wahhabi ideology is an incubator for Sunni extremism.Recent months have seen escalating tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, longstanding regional rivals, over the crises in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and the rise of Islamic State. The Saudis, in newly assertive mood since King Salman came to the throne in January, accuse Iran of fomenting sectarian conflict. The Iranians retort that Saudi Wahhabi ideology is an incubator for Sunni extremism.
Beyond the nuclear issue and Iran’s regional reach, historical Gulf concerns include Iran’s alleged involvement in the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996 and the issue of al-Qaida members resident in Iran.Beyond the nuclear issue and Iran’s regional reach, historical Gulf concerns include Iran’s alleged involvement in the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996 and the issue of al-Qaida members resident in Iran.
The UAE and Bahrain are firmly in the Saudi camp, while Oman, Qatar and Kuwait have better relations with Iran.The UAE and Bahrain are firmly in the Saudi camp, while Oman, Qatar and Kuwait have better relations with Iran.
Oman played a crucial mediating role at an early stage of the US-Iran nuclear talks. Its foreign minister, Yusuf Bin Alawi, was in the Qatari capital, Doha, before the Vienna agreement was signed on 14 July and later met Zarif, the sources said.Oman played a crucial mediating role at an early stage of the US-Iran nuclear talks. Its foreign minister, Yusuf Bin Alawi, was in the Qatari capital, Doha, before the Vienna agreement was signed on 14 July and later met Zarif, the sources said.
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, has also pledged that Washington will help the Gulf Arabs to “push back” against Iranian influence in the region, in an interview with the pan-Arab newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat. Kerry and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, are both travelling to Doha in early August.The US secretary of state, John Kerry, has also pledged that Washington will help the Gulf Arabs to “push back” against Iranian influence in the region, in an interview with the pan-Arab newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat. Kerry and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, are both travelling to Doha in early August.
“I think we can persuade them [the GCC] ... that by being more effective in our counter-push as well as through the restraints we have, they will be significantly strengthened going forward,” Kerry told the paper. “I think we can persuade [the GCC] ... that by being more effective in our counter-push, as well as through the restraints we have, they will be significantly strengthened going forward,” Kerry told the paper.
He added: “Iran will remain isolated for its support for terrorism, for its support for weapons trading, for its support for the Houthis, its support for Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation. As long as they continue to support it, there will be push-back.” “Iran will remain isolated for its support for terrorism, for its support for weapons trading, for its support for the Houthis, its support for Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation. As long as they continue to support it, there will be push-back.”
Kerry also told al Arabiya television that he found Khamenei’s weekend comments disturbing and troubling.Kerry also told al Arabiya television that he found Khamenei’s weekend comments disturbing and troubling.
The US defence secretary, Ashton Carter, flew into Saudi Arabia for meetings on Wednesday with King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Carter said ahead of his trip that he aimed to discuss American strategy to counter “Iranian aggression” in the region, as well as the fight against Isis.The US defence secretary, Ashton Carter, flew into Saudi Arabia for meetings on Wednesday with King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Carter said ahead of his trip that he aimed to discuss American strategy to counter “Iranian aggression” in the region, as well as the fight against Isis.
The US diplomatic offensive follows a May summit with Gulf Arab leaders called by President Barack Obama at Camp David, which was snubbed by the leaders of both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.The US diplomatic offensive follows a May summit with Gulf Arab leaders called by President Barack Obama at Camp David, which was snubbed by the leaders of both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The US aimed to convince its Arab allies the nuclear deal was in their interests. “The whole reason for Camp David was to bring people together around in an organisational effort to push back against Iran,” Kerry said. “We have negotiated a nuclear deal for the simple reason that we believe if you are going to push back against Iran, it’s better to push back against an Iran without a nuclear weapon than with one.”The US aimed to convince its Arab allies the nuclear deal was in their interests. “The whole reason for Camp David was to bring people together around in an organisational effort to push back against Iran,” Kerry said. “We have negotiated a nuclear deal for the simple reason that we believe if you are going to push back against Iran, it’s better to push back against an Iran without a nuclear weapon than with one.”
Prince Bandar bin Sultan, a former head of Saudi intelligence, warned last week that the nuclear deal would allow Iran to “wreak havoc in the region”.Prince Bandar bin Sultan, a former head of Saudi intelligence, warned last week that the nuclear deal would allow Iran to “wreak havoc in the region”.