CAIRO: Iran offered its regional neighbors Monday the transfer of peaceful nuclear capabilities in an effort to counter US claims that it is developing nuclear technology to threaten surrounding countries.
Egypt on Tuesday welcomed a recent statement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Tehran was ready to restore full diplomatic ties with Cairo.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit described Ahmadinejad s overture two weeks ago as positive, and told reporters he had received a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and had replied to it.
I told Mr Mottaki that Egypt considers the statement by the Iranian president as positive, he said, adding that the details would be discussed at a meeting with Mottaki. He did not specify a date for those talks.
While the norm is that Iran is generally at loggerheads with its neighbors in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said at a conference in Tehran on security in the Persian Gulf that, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has announced its readiness for transferring its nuclear experiences to neighboring countries under supervision, of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We are hopeful that leaders of neighboring countries will pay the necessary attention to Iran s right to exploitation of nuclear energy, Mottaki added.
Researcher in Gulf Affairs Ahsraf El Essawy told The Daily Star Egypt that Iran is offering the technology to counter the US campaign against its nuclear program as well as Israeli threats to strike its nuclear facilities.
“Recent Iranian moves come as part of a diplomatic strategy of containment, he said.
Egypt does not oppose the peaceful use of nuclear power, and has recently restarted a nuclear program that had been shelved for two decades.
An Egyptian diplomatic source had previously told The Daily Star Egypt, “Egypt supports any peaceful nuclear program as long as it adheres to the international standards defined by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and does not seek military nuclear power.
This offer to share nuclear technology comes in the wake of many diplomatic moves on the part of Iran to reduce simmering tensions in the region. First, Iranian President Ahmadinejad offered to resume full diplomatic ties with Egypt and then the first bilateral meeting between the US and Iran in 27 years took place in Baghdad to discuss the situation in Iraq.
“The Iranian American talks were about Iraq, but Iran is attempting to exploit American difficulties in Iraq to create a more comprehensive dialogue, which will include other topics such as its nuclear program, Essawy said.
“For this end, he added, “Iran is reaching out to moderate Arab countries allied with the US as part of this policy, pointing out recent visits by Ahmadinejad to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, deputy head of the Iranian National Security Council Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told Isna news agency on Sunday, “These talks [with the US] will not affect our nuclear issue, because we are not interested.
Mottaki said that Iran’s initiative to resume relations received a favourable response from Egypt, claiming he received a card from Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit welcoming Iran’s offer.
“From our point of view, having formal, healthy and logical relations would prepare for the opportunity to review some incorrect policies, Mottaki said. “Iran and Egypt are two important countries of the region. There are capacities in the region.
Additionally, Essawy said that the nuclear offer was an attempt on the part of Iran to reassure Gulf countries, who have grave concerns about the intent of Iran’s nuclear plans.
Expert on Gulf Affairs at the Diplomatic Center Ahsraf Keshk previously told The Daily Star Egypt that Iran feels threatened by the presence of US troops in the Middle East and so it wants reassurance and a comprehensive settlement from the US that will guarantee its security and the continuation of its role in the region.
He continued: “The Iranians are inextricably involved in the region and the US cannot end that with a strike or sanctions.
The solution, Keshk believes, lies only in “negotiations and they will take years, not a month or two. American-Iranian relations are complicated, not only on the nuclear front. There are other issues, so if a comprehensive deal is reached, maybe things will improve for the region. – With additional reporting by AFP
