KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION: Iran's Nuclear Program

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005290

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/PPD, INR/NESA
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KMDR KU XF

SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION: Iran's Nuclear Program



1. Summary: Kuwaiti Arabic-language daily newspapers have
not covered the Iranian nuclear program and its
international implications with great depth. Articles and
news pieces have appeared sporadically when there have been
major developments. The article below was published in a
daily newspaper that is considered to be moderate. End
Summary.

Block Quotes
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2. Wednesday, December 28, 2005

-- Under the title, "Which is more dangerous Israel or
Iran?," Salah Al-Fadly wrote in the moderate Arabic-language
daily Al-Rai Al-Aam: "The Gulf Cooperation Council summit
meeting held last week in the UAE called for making the
Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction.
Despite the fact that this call includes all countries that
possess nuclear weapons or nuclear programs, it seems that
it was aimed at the Iranian nuclear program. When speaking
of tensions, worries, and fears experienced by the countries
in the region towards the Iranian nuclear program, we must
examine the likelihood of the Iranian nuclear program posing
a threat to Gulf States. If Iran had any hostile intentions
towards the Gulf States, it would certainly not need nuclear
weapons. Iran's rhetoric has been and continues to be one
of friendship despite the harm caused by the Gulf States to
it during the Iran-Iraq war. Some may claim that Gulf
States are afraid of technical malfunctions or the case of
Israel deciding to strike against Iranian reactors and that
they (Gulf states) would suffer the most. That is a
legitimate fear and one that Iran should address. It is
Iran's right as it is the right of any state to develop its
capabilities. Even if the program's ultimate goal is to
develop a nuclear weapon, that is still Iran's right. More
precisely, it is a duty, as nuclear weapons are the only
deterrent against Israel in case of it deciding to attack
Iran. Iran should speed up its program and obtain nuclear
weapons as Israel is not to be trusted. Gulf States should
be comfortable with this, because if there is a danger
threatening them, it most certainly is not Iran."

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