IRAN-NUCLEAR/ZARIF-KUWAIT With nuclear deal done, Iran sets out to reassure wary Gulf Arabs

Record ID: 146269

  • Title: IRAN-NUCLEAR/ZARIF-KUWAIT With nuclear deal done, Iran sets out to reassure wary Gulf Arabs
  • Date: 26th July 2015
  • Summary: KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT (JULY 26, 2015) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF AND OTHERS ENTER PRESS CONFERENCE AT SHERATON HOTEL (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF, SAYING: "No one should believe that if there is a threat to any state (in the region) it may be to the benefit of anoth
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kuwait
  • Country: Kuwait
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9WCRY26LFXUUCU4T216IQLXL8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Iran's foreign minister called on Sunday (July 26) for a united front among all Middle Eastern nations to fight militancy, in his first regional trip after reaching a nuclear deal with world powers that raised concerns among Iran's Gulf Arab neighbours.
    Zarif earlier met Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah and his Kuwait's foreign minister, Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Sabah, who was not present at the press conference.
    "No one should believe that if there is a threat to any state (in the region) it may be to the benefit of another country," Zarif told a news conference Kuwait's Sheraton Hotel.
    Most Gulf Arab states are worried that Iran's July 14 accord will hasten detente between Tehran and Washington, emboldening Tehran to increase backing for Middle Eastern allies at odds with Gulf Arab countries.
    "I have to say that Islamic Republic of Iran stands next to the peoples in the region in the face of the common threat to the region, namely terrorism, extremism and sectarianism," he said.
    "On this basis, our message to the countries of the region is that there has to be cooperation between these countries to face the common challenge," he added.
    Most Sunni Muslim-ruled Gulf Arab states have long accused Tehran of interference in Arab affairs, alleging financial or armed support for political movements in countries including Bahrain, Yemen and Lebanon.
    Predominantly Shi'ite Iran denies interference but says the nuclear agreement will not change its policies in the region.
    "The flimsy accusations that have been put forward, it is unfortunate that they have been put forward to prevent cooperation (between Iran and the region)."
    "Timing is the best proof that it was put forward to prevent between the countries in the region. I do not know why some countries worry about easing the crisis," he added.
    Before his Gulf visit, Zarif said in a statement posted on his ministry's website late on Friday that Tehran would continue supporting its allies in Syria and Iraq to fight against militant group Islamic State.
    "The things that the region needs is not to change Iranian polices, it needs to change the polices of some countries which want conflict and war. Iran has always advocated cooperation between everyone," he said.
    "We were the quickest in providing assistance to the Iraqi people so that Baghdad and Erbil would not to fall under the control of ISIL," he added.
    Bahrain said on Saturday it had foiled an arms smuggling plot by two Bahrainis with ties to Iran and announced the recall of the Gulf island kingdom's ambassador to Tehran for consultations after what it said were repeated hostile Iranian statements.
    Iran's foreign ministry called the allegation "baseless and repetitive".
    Zarif began his three-country tour of the region in Kuwait, before heading to Qatar and then Iraq.
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