Turki Al-Faisal: If Iran Acquires Nuclear Weapons, The GCC Should Consider Acquiring A 'Nuclear Deterrent' Of Its Own.

Pakistani Agni V. 

Former Saudi Ambassador To Washington Turki Al-Faisal: If Iran Acquires Nuclear Weapons, The GCC Should Consider Acquiring A 'Nuclear Deterrent' Of Its Own.HT: Memri.

"Sanctions Alone Are Not Deterring The Iranian Leadership From Reaching Its Goal"

"...The first issue [I shall address], without preference to any prioritizing, is Iran. Since the Iranian revolution, the leadership there has assumed a pugilist's stance towards the world community, and we assume an embracing stance. While Saudi Arabia has the world's greatest petroleum reserves, Iran has the second. 

Saudi Arabia is Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the birthplace of Islam, and as such it is the eminent leader of the wider Muslim world. Iran portrays itself as the leader of not just the minority Shiite world, but of all Muslim revolutionaries interested in standing up to the West.

"In addition to these differences, Saudi Arabia has two other concerns about Iran. First, it is in our interest that the Iranian leadership does not develop a nuclear weapon, for their doing so will make nuclear arms proliferation in the Middle East the norm. I have suggested that the Gulf Cooperation Council members should carefully weigh all options, including acquiring a nuclear deterrent, if the Iranian leadership succeed in building a nuclear weapon. 

This is why, through various initiatives, we are sending messages to them that it is their right, as it is any nation's right, and as we ourselves are doing, to develop a civilian nuclear program, but that trying to parlay that program into nuclear weapons is a dead end, and that wiser choices will result in wider riches. 

A Zone Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction is the best means to get Iran and Israel to give up nuclear weapons. 

Such a Zone must be accompanied by a rewards regime that provides economic and technical support for countries that join, plus a nuclear security umbrella guaranteed by the permanent members of the Security Council. It should include a sanctions regime that puts economic and political sanctions on countries that don't join, plus military sanctions against those countries that try to develop weapons of mass destruction, also guaranteed by the permanent members of the Security Council. 

'Sanctions alone are not deterring the Iranian leadership from reaching its goal.'

I also heartily agree with those in the international community who possess the blessed wisdom to know that unilateral military strikes would be catastrophic. 

Alas, with Netanyahu observing Mr. Obama's lamentable conduct in Syria, he may opt for a unilateral strike in spite of the dire consequences. 

The Iranian leadership will welcome such a strike and may provoke it.

After Rohani's sweet talk and Obama's open arms approach to him, the Iranian people will certainly rally behind their leadership."Hmmm.....Please read the rest of his 'speech' it's interesting. 

Related: 

Graphic: Saudi Arabia's missile base 'with launch pads aimed at Israel and Iran'