Focus should be on building more cooperative and rational ties with the Gulf states based on goodwill
Iran made two serious allegations about the Gulf states last week, which are unfounded and designed to be destabilising. These wild allegations have been denied by the Gulf states, but rather than attack each other, it is important that all countries in the region focus on the need to work for more cooperative and rational regional relations, based on goodwill and mutual respect.


This is not helped by fantastic Iranian claims that Bahrain forces used poisonous gas during the recent unrest, which was claimed by Iran’s deputy foreign minister in Moscow. The Bahraini government said: “We are deeply astonished at the false allegations that aim to cover up the catastrophic situation in Iran and the disastrous and tragic economic conditions suffered by the brotherly people of Iran.”




The Kuwaiti government was forced to reject another unfounded attack on Gulf states made by Iranian General Yahya Safavi, who is an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards. He accused Gulf states of spending billions of dollars to buy weapons in order to serve US and Israeli interests in the region, adding a more direct reference to the Arab states when he said that “We warn smaller countries that petrodollars cannot make them play key roles in the region”. The Kuwaitis were right to make clear that Kuwaiti and other Arab states run their own foreign affairs, that after three terrible wars and serious loss of life, the Arab states “want to live in peace with all neighbouring countries, including Iran”. The Kuwaitis have direct experience of Iranian interference since 2011 when they uncovered an Iranian spy ring working for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.




Wild Iranian accusations of plots or use of weapons of mass destruction do not help anyone, and if such claims are designed to cover up Iran’s increasingly desperate situation, they will not be able to change the reality on the ground. Iran needs to re-establish normal relations with its Gulf neighbours, so that the whole Gulf region can find a more balanced way forward.

By Gulf News

 

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