Middle East takes sides in reacting to Iran nuclear deal

Regional reaction to the Iran nuclear deal depends on alliances. For example, there has been a deafening silence from Saudi royals following Tuesday’s announcement of the accord for limiting and monitoring Tehran’s nuclear programme.

As final touches were being put to the text, US president Barack Obama sought to allay the concerns of King Salman bin Abdel Aziz, who is more interested in Iran’s regional role than its nuclear facilities.

“Given that Iran is a neighbour, Saudi Arabia hopes to build with her better relations in all areas on the basis of good neighbourliness and non-interference in internal affairs,” said a Saudi spokesman. The fact that the comment was made by a low- level official indicates the degree of Saudi displeasure, which was expressed vehemently in the kingdom’s closely controlled media.

Obama also spoke to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who welcomed the “historic” agreement, saying it could turn a “new page” for the Gulf.

Other UAE rulers have congratulated Iranian president Hassan Rouhani in the hope that the agreement will “strengthen security and stability in the region”.

Positive role

An unnamed Gulf official followed the Saudi example, reiterating Riyadh’s position that Iran could “play a [positive] role in the region if it revises its policy and stops interfering in the internal affairs of countries like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

“The new direction we hope to see accompany the historic nuclear deal would demonstrate a genuine desire for Iran to help extinguish fires devouring the region. This would move the region away from the discord of sectarianism, extremism and terrorism.”

To address this particular issue, Obama is due to dispatch defence secretary Ashton Carter to the Gulf with the aim of reassuring allies that the US remains fully committed to their security.

Trade benefits

The UAE’s adherence to the Saudi line ignores huge benefits in trade that are likely to accrue to Abu Dhabi and Dubai following the lifting of the punitive sanctions regime imposed on Iran.

Egypt’s foreign ministry said it “hopes the deal would prevent an arms race in the Middle East, clear it from any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and lead to peace and stability in the region”.

Jordan government spokesman Mohamed Momani stressed that the kingdom’s firm support for any step that could enhance regional peace and security.

Saudi Arabia dominates the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council, to which the UAE belongs, and finances both Egypt and Jordan.

Iran’s allies and beneficiaries of military and financial aid were positive. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad sent a congratulatory messages to Rouhani and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling the deal a “great victory” that could become a “major turning point in the history of Iran, the region, and the world”.

Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, said the deal signifies a common will to defeat Islamic State, which “seeks to drag our region into perpetual conflict”.