Gulf Arabs fear U.S.-Iran diplomacy at their expense
Reuters / Lin Noueihed
17-Feb-2009 (5 comments)

The U.S.-allied Sunni Gulf Arab states had little enthusiasm for former president George W. Bush's hardline stance on Iran, fearing it could spill into a war that would engulf the region.But equally they worry the offer of an improvement in U.S.-Iran ties held out by President Barack Obama could go too far by offering concessions to a powerful regional player they have long regarded with a mix of suspicion and hostility."We have no objection to Iranian-American negotiations. On the contrary, we encourage this kind of dialogue as a way of avoiding taking the region into military action," said Mustafa Alani, at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center."At the same time we have huge concerns that the Americans could give concessions to the Iranians which would undermine our security and be unacceptable to us," he said.

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News Goffer

but they enjoyed the animosity for 3 decades

by News Goffer on Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:55 PM PST

I don't think the Arab states' fear is at all about Iran's "going nuclear" with US' support.  Persian Gulf countries such as UAE and Qatar have enjoyed immense economic development, thanks to investments which have been curbed and barred from entering Iranian markets due to sanctions.  Improved relations between Iran and US will eliminate many of the intermediaries in Iranian trade and put many dealers out of business. 

If and when Iran is able to join the international arena as a viable and respected player, it will assume its rightful position in international trade and business activity, including but not limited to international investments which have been made in other countries in the region instead of Iran.

Improved Iran-US relations will secure Iran that position and that's what Iran's neighbors fear the most.



Balatarin
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The Islamic Republic

by XerXes (not verified) on Tue Feb 17, 2009 07:46 PM PST

Will assure them their security and they will know that there is no neighbor caring and helpful than Iran. Iran with her position of power can demand a lot more from them, but similar to every other international policies, they have moved with a great care and long term strategy.
Hope that the US forces leave the Persian Gulf and let security and peace last forever between the great people of the region.
Regardless, Hats off to great president Obama. He is the America that I love.


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anonymous fish

very very interesting

by anonymous fish on Tue Feb 17, 2009 03:23 PM PST

reminds me of the ill-fated saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". 


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Oh and one more thing

by Toofantheoncesogreat (not verified) on Tue Feb 17, 2009 02:31 PM PST

As for the Persian Gulf arab countries. They dont produce science, they have no industry, no film/culture industry etc, they (kings emirs and idiots) spend their money on meglomaniac projects. and to state an example, Dubai is already starting to turn into a ghost town.

The fall of these nations in the long term is inevetible unless their leaders change the direction they are headed. I seriously doubt they will. The Persian Gulf is riddles with one cleptocratic maniac ruler after another. Before that, these nations are poor investment areas. Iran has already started a plan to divest from the UAE and put it into a more sound area, Turkey, that has the above mentioned industries these countries lack and would be the perfect link for Irans car industry, for example, to reach eastern Europe, and the EU eventually.

Well unless if you count Mecca and Islam as their one and only industry and export commodity.


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RE: News Goffer

by Toofantheoncesogreat (not verified) on Tue Feb 17, 2009 02:18 PM PST

"If and when Iran is able to join the international arena as a viable and respected player, it will assume its rightful position in international trade and business activity, including but not limited to international investments which have been made in other countries in the region instead of Iran.

Improved Iran-US relations will secure Iran that position and that's what Iran's neighbors fear the most."

Beautifull and well written post. Iran is already growing its GDP annually even with the economic crisis. Imagine how the stocks in Teheran stock exhange would jump or maybe triple in value if the sanctions are removed. The way the US economy is collapsing, an increase in US/Iran trade would be beneficial for both countries. It would create more jobs in Iran, reduce poverty and actually help build democracy in the country.

People believe that the more you sanction a regime, the more the risk for it to collaps will occur. This is far from the truth. The poorer the population is, the less educated they will be, the less busy they will be with human rights etc, and easier to control. History proves me right. Can someone say honestly that sanctions has removed power from (former) Saddam, Kim Jong, Mugabe and formely sanctioned Ghaddafi? No.


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