A senior Saudi royal family member's comments criticizing a potential deal on Iran's nuclear program is a distortion of facts and an impediment to reaching a diplomatic solution, a Middle East expert and former Iranian diplomat in Lebanon Saed Hadi Afkahi said.MOSCOW (Sputnik) Iran and a group ofsix negotiating powers are facing a political framework deadline atthe end ofMarch, inhopes that byJuly they will clinch a long-term deal ensuring Iran pursues a peaceful nuclear program inexchange forsanctions relief.
On Monday, Saudi Prince Turki Faisal told BBC that "whatever comes outof these talks, we will want the same."
In an interview withSputnik Radio, Afkahi said the prince's remarks are intended tostrike fear intothe international community.
"These words can be interpreted asa kind ofthreat provoking a conflict Mr. Faisal's statements sow the seeds ofmisconceptions aboutIran inits audience and the world community," the former Iranian diplomat told Sputnik Radio.
Afkahi asserted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) maintained strict oversight ofTehran's nuclear program, which he said was exclusively peaceful innature.
Researcher atthe Russian Academy ofSciences Senior Center forthe Study ofthe Middle East Institute ofOriental Studies Elena Dunaeva, believes the two Islamic centerpieces are positioning forregional dominance.
"This competition is reflected inpolitics, ideology and military affairs. Of course, Saudis do not want tofall behindIranians insuch a key issue asnuclear technology," Dunaeva said inan interview withSputnik.
Afkahi said two ofIAEA's last leaders current Director General Yukiya Amano and his predecessor Mohamed ElBaradei had asserted inthe pastthat Iran's nuclear program was not aimed atdeveloping nuclear weapons.
Concern overa potential deal betweenP5+1 and Iran spans the entire Middle East and may be influenced byoutside forces, Gulf affairs expert Wafiq Ibrahim said.
"Establishing a nuclear plant inthe Gulf, which it does not need, is an American plan just toprovoke the Gulf countries. It is strange that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful, yet it infuriates the Gulf," Ibrahim told Sputnik Arabic.
In spite ofprogress noted byall sides inthe negotiating process withIran Russia, the United States, France, China, the United Kingdom and Germany Washington extended its sanctions againstTehran last week.
By Sputnik News
