IPS-English U.S.-IRAN: UAE press urges restraint
 
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:29:21 -0800

 

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Emirates News Agency (WAM)

DUBAI, Jan. 9 (WAM) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) press on Wednesday
urged both the United States and Iran to act with restraint and talk to
each other to stop the escalating rhetoric.

The papers said the simmering tension between Iran and the U.S. was once
again brought to the fore when U.S. officials blamed Iranian warships for
"provoking" U.S. navy vessels while they were passing through the Strait
of Hormuz, which is of immense strategic importance because it is the only
sea route along which oil from most of the oil-producing countries in the
region can be transported. 

   The Iranian regime has, however, denied that the Revolutionary Guards
boats threatened to destroy the U.S. vessels. 

   The dailies added that with President Bush embarking on the Middle East
tour, all U.S. efforts must focus on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, not
just on Iran.

   The papers saw the incident as strange as it took place on the eve of
Bush's tour of the region.

   "The latest outburst of anger from the U.S. over the incident is an
alarming throwback to the brief stretch of diplomatic standoff between
Iran and Britain last year when 15 British sailors were held captive by
Revolutionary Guards when they allegedly strayed into Iranian waters,"
'Khaleej Times' reported.

   Writing in its editorial today under the title "Troubled Waters", the
paper said: "The world was on tenterhooks as the row raised fears of yet
another full-fledged war in the region. The Hormuz incident also has the
potential for an ugly flare-up between the two sides at a time when the
world thought that tensions between the U.S. and the Ahmadinejad regime
had begun to ease off. 

   "A period of calm in the relations was being anticipated following the
U.S. Intelligence's report on the Iranian nuclear programme. But the calm
was shattered a couple of days ago when President Bush, prior to his visit
to the Middle East, called on his allies in the region to help him curtail
Iran's 'aggressive ambitions'.

   "Therefore, the possibility of a conflagration cannot be discounted,"
the paper warned.

   Another paper believed Iran 'incident' helps Bush to set his agenda.
"This is strange. On the eve of the first visit by U.S. President George
W. Bush to Israel 'an incident' has occurred between the U.S. Navy and
Iranian speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz," according to 'Gulf News'.

   "The fact that the boats are believed to be from the Revolutionary
Guards is significant. The Revolutionary Guards were designated a terror
organisation by Bush last year, allowing for military action to be taken
against them without going for Congressional approval," the paper said on
its editorial.

   At the very least, the paper noted the "incident" helps Bush set an
agenda for his trip that puts the focus on Iran rather than on feeble U.S.
efforts to rein in Israel or push for what Bush himself has set a
timetable for a Palestinian state by the end of this year. (WAM)
                    (WAM)