Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat – A Gulf official is apprehensive over Western incentives to Tehran to encourage it to stop the enrichment of uranium, saying that what worries the Gulf countries is the disclosure that Tehran would be given a regional role in the region’s future, which it called something “very dangerous.”

The source who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity ruled out the possibility that the United States had briefed the region’s countries of the details of its offer to Tehran, it expected the Gulf countries’ frank rejection of a regional role for Tehran and said: “If Iran, without having a regional role, is occupying the United Arab Emirates islands and signaling from time to time it wants Bahrain, what should be expected from it if was really given room for regional or international presence?”

The source added however that the Gulf countries welcome a peaceful solution for the Iranian nuclear program, saying lifting the economic blockade imposed on Iran does not worry the Arab Gulf countries but pleases it. It then went on to say: “There is no objection to any deal offered to neighbor Iran but on condition that it is not at the expense of the Gulf countries’ stability and that it is far from any disruption of the present regional balances.”