Top security official warns Iran against involving GCC in nuclear conflict

gulfnews.com

Dubai: A top security officer warned Iran against involving the GCC in any conflict with the West, saying that the GCC will react strongly to any threat against its stability.

In a rare reaction to Iranian leader's threats, Lt.Col Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, told Gulf News that Gulf countries respect Iran as a neighbouring Muslim country, but will not accept any hostility that has direct impact on the lives of people in the region.

"Our strong relations with Iranians don't mean that government in the GCC will not react strongly to any work that will endanger its social stability and economic prosperity," he warned.

He also acknowledged that Iran might have sleeping agents in the region.

"My advice to them [is to] keep them sleepy because it is not in the interests of Iranians in the region to destabilize host countries," he said.

Khalfan said Iran's conflict with the US over its nuclear enrichment programme should not involve the GCC.

"We are in favour a peaceful resolution because this would be in the interest of all people in the rim of the Arabian Gulf, including Iranians. The wise leaders of Iran should try to come out of this confrontation with a minimum damage. This doesn't mean that they [Iranians] can cut the life vein of the region just because they can't confront the US directly," Khalfan said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly warned against threats of attacks on the country, saying the Iranian military will take strong action.

"We believe Iranian leaders who do not complicate issues with their fiery statements will not allow to severe their relations with the nations in the Gulf, because such a move will backfire on their nation," he said.