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Gulf states slow population boom
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, April 17, 2002
UAE STUDY POINTS TO IRAN AS GREATEST THREAT
ABU DHABI Ñ Iran has been identified as the greatest strategic
threat to the United Arab Emirates.
A study by the Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and
Research asserts that the UAE continues to view Iran as the leading threat
in the Persian Gulf despite Teheran's charm campaign. Iran has tried to woo
the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries with incentives of
expanded trade as well as security and military cooperation.
The UAE has claimed three islands occupied by Iranian forces since 1971.
The Iranian presence on the strategic islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and
Lesser Tunb has hampered Teheran's efforts to improve relations with both
Abu Dhabi as well as the rest of the GCC.
"Iran constitutes the greatest threat to the UAE because of its
continuous occupation of the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser
Tunb since 1971," the study, authored by UAE strategist Abdul Khalek
Abdullah, said. "Iran's intentions and expansionist ambitions and its desire
to demonstrate itself as the biggest military and political power in the
region are also a source of permanent concern to the UAE and a cause of fear
for the other Gulf states."
Iran has launched a military modernization program that focuses on power
projection in the Gulf. Teheran is negotiating with Russia for the purchase
of such long-range systems as the S-300, the Su-27 fighter, which Gulf
strategists assert can hamper military air traffic in the region.
The study acknowledged the growing trade between Iran and the UAE. The
two countries are said to value economic and trade links as compatible and
significant.
"The UAE and Iran have more to converge than to diverge," the study
said. "Relations between them in various fields, especially in trade, are
very cordial if not ideal."
Iran has offered to discuss its military presence on the three Gulf
islands. But Teheran has ruled out any decision to withdraw or abandon
sovereignty.
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