Monday, 02 May 2011
The head of the GCC slammed as “aggressive” a statement by a top Iranian military official who said the “Persian Gulf” belonged to Iran. (Illustration by Amarjit Sidhu)
The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Monday slammed as “aggressive” a statement by a top Iranian military official who said the “Persian Gulf” belonged to the Islamic Republic.
“The Gulf belongs to all states on its shores, and Iran has no right to claim otherwise as it owns nothing from the Gulf but its territorial waters,” said GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani in a statement.
The remarks of the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, General Hassan Firouzabadi, were “aggressive and reflect (Iran's) expansionist intentions, which contradict the principles of good neighborhood,” Mr. Zayani added.
Media reports in the Islamic republic said General Firouzabadi on Saturday denounced what he called an “Arab dictatorial front” and claimed that the “Persian Gulf has belonged to Iran forever.”
“The Gulf belongs to all states on its shores, and Iran has no right to claim otherwise as it owns nothing from the Gulf but its territorial waters,” said GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani in a statement.
The remarks of the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, General Hassan Firouzabadi, were “aggressive and reflect (Iran's) expansionist intentions, which contradict the principles of good neighborhood,” Mr. Zayani added.
Media reports in the Islamic republic said General Firouzabadi on Saturday denounced what he called an “Arab dictatorial front” and claimed that the “Persian Gulf has belonged to Iran forever.”
“The Arab dictatorial regimes in the Persian Gulf are unable to contain the popular uprisings,” General Firouzabadi said. “The Persian Gulf has always, is and shall always belong to Iran.”
Mr. Zayani characterized the Iranian general’s remarks as “unacceptable blatant interference in the internal affairs of GCC countries, expressing complete ignorance on the region's history, its Arab identity, and the nature of (its) political regimes.”
Relations between Iran and its Gulf Arab neighbors have deteriorated sharply, with the latter accusing Tehran of seeking to destabilize Arab regimes in favor of anti-regime protests that have erupted in many Arab countries.
Shiite-dominant Iran strongly criticized Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Sunni-ruled Bahrain that was aimed at helping contain a Shiite-led uprising there.
General Firouzabadi also warned Saudi Arabia that its decision to send forces to Bahrain would spark unrest at home.
“Unfair and un-Islamic moves will hurt the honor of Muslims in Saudi Arabia, and it will threaten the security of Saudi Arabia,” General Firouzabadi was quoted as saying by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency.
General Firouzabadi, who is known for his anti-Saudi rhetoric, also lashed out at the United States, claiming Washington was behind Riyadh’s move into Bahrain so that it could preserve an American naval base there.
“Washington ordered Saudi Arabia as its mercenary to thwart the Bahrainis’ popular revolution so that the US can maintain its base,” he was reported as saying.
Iran says it gives “moral support” to Bahrainis but is not involved in the protests there.
Bahrain and Kuwait have in turn expelled Iranian diplomats, accusing them of espionage.
Iran has in the past claimed Bahrain as part of its territory, and it controls three islands in the southern Gulf that are also claimed by the United Arab Emirates.
Besides Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, the GCC includes Oman, Qatar and oil-producing kingpin Saudi Arabia.
(Sara Ghasemilee of Al Arabiya can be reached at: sara.ghasemilee@mbc.net)
Mr. Zayani characterized the Iranian general’s remarks as “unacceptable blatant interference in the internal affairs of GCC countries, expressing complete ignorance on the region's history, its Arab identity, and the nature of (its) political regimes.”
Relations between Iran and its Gulf Arab neighbors have deteriorated sharply, with the latter accusing Tehran of seeking to destabilize Arab regimes in favor of anti-regime protests that have erupted in many Arab countries.
Shiite-dominant Iran strongly criticized Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Sunni-ruled Bahrain that was aimed at helping contain a Shiite-led uprising there.
General Firouzabadi also warned Saudi Arabia that its decision to send forces to Bahrain would spark unrest at home.
“Unfair and un-Islamic moves will hurt the honor of Muslims in Saudi Arabia, and it will threaten the security of Saudi Arabia,” General Firouzabadi was quoted as saying by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency.
General Firouzabadi, who is known for his anti-Saudi rhetoric, also lashed out at the United States, claiming Washington was behind Riyadh’s move into Bahrain so that it could preserve an American naval base there.
“Washington ordered Saudi Arabia as its mercenary to thwart the Bahrainis’ popular revolution so that the US can maintain its base,” he was reported as saying.
Iran says it gives “moral support” to Bahrainis but is not involved in the protests there.
Bahrain and Kuwait have in turn expelled Iranian diplomats, accusing them of espionage.
Iran has in the past claimed Bahrain as part of its territory, and it controls three islands in the southern Gulf that are also claimed by the United Arab Emirates.
Besides Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, the GCC includes Oman, Qatar and oil-producing kingpin Saudi Arabia.
(Sara Ghasemilee of Al Arabiya can be reached at: sara.ghasemilee@mbc.net)
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