Iran offers missile and nuclear help to 'weak states' in region

GeostrategyDirect.com ^ | 4/03/2010 | GeostrategyDirect.com

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Iran has offered its Gulf Arab neighbors cooperation in ballistic missile development and control. Iran has briefed the six Gulf Cooperation Council states on the prospect of military cooperation with Teheran. Officials said Teheran was ready to replace the United States as the guarantor of regional stability.

"We welcome our neighbors," Iranian professor Abu Mohammed Asgharani said. "On ballistic missiles and nuclear energy, we would be happy to see you establish a regional laboratory to work on both conventional and peaceful energy."

In an address to a nuclear technology conference in Manama, Asgharani said Teheran was willing to brief GCC states on its nuclear energy program. Asgharani, a consultant to Iran's military programs, said Teheran would also help the GCC enhance its deterrent capabilities.

"As regards conventional ballistic missiles, you can't deprive yourself of a basic strategy of deterrence," Asgharani said on March 27.

"It's a basic fact that you should move to self-help systems, and we would like to have this type of cooperation with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan."

Iran has sought to sign defense and security cooperation accords with GCC states. So far, Qatar has been the only GCC country to sign a military cooperation agreement with Teheran in 2010.

"In order to facilitate cooperation in nuclear proliferation, Arab states need the guarantee of security," Asgharani said. "Therefore they need a regional security arrangement. The weak states of the region should make an alliance."