12 December 2009: AFP
MANAMA — Tehran's talks with the West on the Iranian nuclear programme failed
because the Arab states of the Gulf were not involved, Bahrain's foreign
minister told a security conference on Saturday.
Because the process was flawed, its failure should not result in new
sanctions on Iran, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa told the
sixth Manama Dialogue.
"Somebody's trying to do business while we're not there, while we're not
present in that room," he said. "This is a fundamental mistake of how these
talks were conducted. I think that is the main reason of why the talks
failed."
The talks were only between Iran and the world's major powers, "not the
countries that have the fear of whatever is going on and not being consulted and
not being involved," said Sheikh Khaled, whose country hosts the US Fifth
Fleet.
"To move from a wrong system of talks and put sanctions on the people of Iran
is not fair," he said.
On Friday, European leaders backed new sanctions, warning that Tehran's
refusal to negotiate over its nuclear programme must be met with a tough
response.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates also said he expected "significant" new
measures imposed if Iran fails to live up to commitments, and accused it of
"stiffing the international community."
Many in the West suspect Iran is developing technology to enrich uranium to
highly refined levels to covertly build a nuclear bomb, a charge Tehran
vehemently denies, saying its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes
only.
Neither Israel -- widely believed to be the sole, if undeclared,
nuclear-armed power in the Middle East -- nor the United States has ruled out
military action against Iran over its atomic ambitions.
Sheikh Khaled called a possible confrontation between Israel and Iran
"perhaps the most fearsome threat to the region."
"Lives will be lost, vital resources will be put in jeopardy, the world
economy will undoubtedly suffer and all our efforts towards regional development
and prosperity will be significantly hindered" if such a conflict takes place,
he said.
