GCC won’t sit idle in face of Iran threat

JEDDAH: 13 April 2015

Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Abdullah Al-Asheikh said that leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will inform the US administration, during their expected joint meeting at Camp David later this spring, that they will not be silent if they find the Iranian nuclear deal threatens their countries, adding, "In this case, we will do our best to stop it."

At the same time, the ambassador hoped that the result of Camp David summit between US and GCC leaders would convince the US administration to take its allies' interests in the Middle East into account. He also clarified that the US must know GCC leaders' visions to protect their security and stability.

During an interview with a Bahraini daily on Sunday, the ambassador described the ongoing Decisive Storm military operation as a "wise step" which was taken by the GCC, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco. He pointed out that this historic decision was taken after exhausting all peaceful means with the Houthi militias which are backed by external regional forces in addition to the support of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

He stressed that the Kingdom does not have any conflicts with any party, but the Kingdom would protect the Gulf states' security. He stressed that Saudi Arabia is not a nation that issues should be resolved through war, but a nation that believes in peace and plays a vital role in ensuring the security of the region.

"We have a strategic cooperation with Pakistan, the United States and others friends in the West … the Kingdom extends its hand to any party which wants to coordinate with Saudi Arabia to create peace, security and stability," Al-Asheikh said.

"We disagree with countries who seek to dominate, expand into our countries and interfere in our internal affairs. This is what has been done by Iran and we will protect our nations, and our security and stability. We are capable of doing it," he added.