ABU DHABI – Gulf Arab governments dismissed as “interference” an Iranian suggestion that unrest in Syria and Bahrain be discussed at nuclear talks between world powers and Iran, accusing Tehran of trying to dodge the main agenda. The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said the bloc “categorically rejected” Iran's proposal, saying it was further evidence of Iranian meddling in the region, the Bahraini news agency BNA reported on Thursday. “This confirms Iran's clear interference in the domestic affairs of Arab countries, and its continuous efforts to destabilize the security of some of these Arab countries,” Abdulatif Al-Zayani was quoted by BNA as saying. BNA further quoted Zayani as saying that Iran was trying to manipulate the negotiations “by mixing political cards” and continuing “procrastination and non-seriousness on reaching a final solution to alleviate regional and international fears regarding its controversial nuclear program.” Zayani, according to BNA, urged the six powers to “reject these provocative Iranian attempts.” Western diplomats have accused Iran in the past of avoiding the main point of the negotiations by trying to have the agenda widened to cover general security and economic issues. The next negotiating session is to be held in Kazakhstan on Feb. 26. The West fears Iran is pursuing the means to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says it seeks only civilian atomic energy. Bahrain had summoned Iran's charge d'affaires over the statement, BNA said. – Reuters
