Gulf states 'offer Iran uranium'
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Gulf states 'offer Iran uranium'*
Gulf states are willing to set up a body to provide enriched uranium to
Iran, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister is reported to have said.
Prince Saud al-Faisal told the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) the
plan could defuse Tehran's stand-off with the West over its nuclear
programme.
The prince was quoted as saying that Iran was considering the Gulf
states' offer, but the US was not involved.
The BBC's Paul Reynolds says it is doubtful the plan will go anywhere.
It is similar to one proposed by Russia in December 2005, which led to
initially positive talks between Moscow and Tehran, but in the end led
nowhere, says our world affairs correspondent.
'An interesting idea'
Prince Saud said the offer came from the six states that make up the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
"We have proposed a solution, which is to create a consortium for all
users of enriched uranium in the Middle East," he was quoted as saying.
Work at a uranium conversion facility near Isfahan, Iran, in March 2005
The US claims Iran is developing nuclear weapons
"[We will] do it in a collective manner through a consortium that will
distribute according to needs, give each plant its own necessary amount,
and ensure no use of this enriched uranium for atomic weapons."
He outlined the plan in an interview for the MEED during Saudi King
Abdullah's state visit to London.
Prince Saud said the GCC had developed the proposal to stave off a
nuclear arms race in the Gulf.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian energy purposes, but the
US claims Tehran is developing nuclear weapons.
Prince Saud is reported to have said: "They [the Iranians] have
responded that it is an interesting idea and they will come back to us.
"The US is not involved, but I don't think it would be hostile to this,
and it would resolve a main area of tension between the West and Iran."
The UK foreign office said the five permanent UN Security Council
members - the US, China, Russia, France and Britain - along with Germany
would meet on Friday in London to discuss the next step on Iran's
nuclear programme.