Bahrain's foreign minister on Sunday stressed that Gulf countries want to be kept informed about the negotiations that Iran is holding with world powers on its controversial nuclear programme.
Because of their proximity to Iran, "the countries of the region are part of the equation and it is important that they be kept constantly informed" about the talks, the last round of which was in Geneva, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said.
"We are not asking to be part of the discussions, just to be kept informed," said Sheikh Khaled, who spoke with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed al-Sabah, who was visiting Manama, present.
"It is important to us that the discussions do not fail," he said, adding that success in the Iran talks would "ease the situation in the region" of the Gulf.
Iran on Tuesday wrapped up two days of talks in Geneva with the P5+1 grouping of UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany, over Tehran's nuclear programme. Many Western states believe the Islamic republic is seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.
US diplomatic cables released by whistleblower website WikiLeaks report calls from some Gulf Co-operation Council members, especially Saudi Arabia, for US military action to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.
On Friday, US Defence Secretary Robert gates said that countries in the Gulf share Washington's view on the threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme and support an approach focused on continued sanctions against Tehran.
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