Friday, 05 December 2008
updated 1 minute ago
18:22 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

Bahrain signs nuke accord with US

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 25 March 2008

NUCLEAR CHESS: Bahrain signed a MoU of nuclear cooperation with the US on Monday, further isolating Iran in the region. (Getty Images)

Bahrain on Monday signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with the US, further isolating neighbour Iran at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran are at boiling point.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Khalifa.

The official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said the agreement affirmed the kingdom's commitment to developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Story continues below ↓

The memorandum “aims at ensuring stability and diversification of nuclear resources to help develop different industrial sectors”, according to the BNA.

The US State Department said the agreement “reflects Bahrain’s commitment to serve as a model in the region”, a move that “stands in direct contrast to Iran’s nuclear activities”.

The move is the latest attempt by the US to build closer ties with Iran's Gulf Arab neighbours as it tries to further isolate the Islamic republic and weaken its influence in the region.

Wrapping up his tour of the Middle East, US Vice President Dick Cheney said on Monday that Iran's nuclear aspirations continued to hinder the peace process and that the country must meet demands of the international community and give up its nuclear aspirations.

The UN Security Council on March 3 the imposed a third round of sanctions against Iran for refusing to stop the enrichment of uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons.

Iran has vehemently denied that its nuclear programme is for anything other than peaceful, civilian purposes.

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (0)

Have your say

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.

Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country

Subject *

Comment *


Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.