Arab states should cooperate with Iran

Egypt’s presidential candidate Amr Moussa says the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf and Iran need to cooperate for the sake of their common interests.

“Undoubtedly, Iran is a brother nation and a significant neighbor and country in the region, and I have always called for dialog with Iran, not only as the Arab League chief, but also when I was in charge of Egypt’s Foreign Ministry and insisted that Iran-Egypt ties should not be cut off,” Fars News Agency quoted Moussa as saying.

I have always urged the settlement of Arab-Iranian differences through dialog and negotiations, the outgoing Secretary General of the Arab League said.

Iran and some neighboring Arab countries have differences over a number of issues, such as the legal status of the three Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa and also the historical name of the Persian Gulf.

Moussa also addressed the brutal crackdown of Israel on Palestinian and Syrian protesters and condemned the killing of scores of people in the attacks as an indication of Tel Aviv’s “savagery and grudge.”

The Egyptian presidential hopeful said these acts of violence “impose further pressure on the Arab nations which have been frustrated under their subservient regimes, and are now refusing to keep silent against these aggressions and atrocities.”

Moussa said the whole Arab world backs the UN scheduled consideration of the formation of an independent Palestinian state in September in the face of the fierce Israeli and US opposition against the move.

“That is not only a Palestinian decision, but also an Arab one, meaning that the Arab world firmly supports the initiative,” he said.

The Egyptian figure voiced concerns over US threats to veto any UN resolution recognizing an independent Palestinian state.

“Because of this, the Arab League has formed a committee to pursue the peace process and explore the issue and the ways to confront it.”

In early May, rival Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas signed a deal in Cairo to establish a unity government and agreed to form an interim cabinet of technocrats and non-partisan figures to pave the way for national elections within a year.

Analysts hailed the reconciliation deal and the prospect of national elections in Palestine as a key move to pave the way for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Israel has fiercely opposed the Palestinian unity deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that Fatah should choose between peace with Israel and unity with Hamas.