Kuwait Times

Published Date: May 10, 2007
By B Izzak, Staff writer

KUWAIT: The government yesterday briefed the National Assembly's foreign relations committee of its preparations for a possible US-Iran military confrontation, but politicians played down such a possibility. The meeting was attended by ministers in the government emergency team, headed by Interior and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and several MPs. Each minister explained to the committee the preparations they have taken in case a war breaks out between the United States and Iran over its nuclear programme.

Sheikh Jaber described the meeting as fruitful, saying the government briefed MPs of its contingency plans. "We have detailed MPs with all the preparations we have taken for any emergency or catastrophe in the future and received their backing," Sheikh Jaber told reporters in a brief statement. Head of the committee MP Mohammad Al-Saqer said the ministers presented full details of their preparations, especially the ministries of interior and health. "I am very pleased with their preparations and this indicates that our position is assuring," Saqer told reporters.

He said the meeting discussed the possibility of an influx of refugees into the country as a result of war and a possible nuclear radiation from neighbouring Iran. Asked if there are solid indications of military moves against Iran that prompted the meeting, Saqer said, "There are three US aircraft carriers in the Gulf. They are here either to strike Iran or act as a deterrence". He said that in some cases, the threat to use force is even stronger than the actual use of force. "The international community wants Iran to accept mediations".

Asked if the meeting discussed the possibility of Kuwait becoming a target for attacks or terrorist actions, Sager said, "Yes, everything". "Today, I was surprised to see that the government is well prepared for everything. This is however theoretical, and I can't be certain that they will implement it in practice," he said. "Nevertheless, we are not in the same position as we were on August 2, 1990" when Iraq invaded Kuwait, he said. "I can say that the government has certainly learnt the lesson of the Iraqi invasion".

Saqer however said that he is optimistic that there will be no war between Tehran and Washington. "I am optimistic that nothing will happen. The Iranians are also confident that no war will take place," he said. Saqer added that he recently visited Iran and met with several officials including former president Ali Akbar Rafsanjani, and "I believe the Iranians are ready to negotiate all issues".

Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi also played down the possibility of an Iranian-US military confrontation. "I don't think there is a danger of launching war against Iran but preparations and caution are needed," he said. "I think the issues we encountered during the Iraqi invasion make us to be cautious of everything," the speaker said. Khorafi also said that Iran is keen to preserve the stability of the Gulf region and that it will exert every effort to achieve it.
 
State news agency KUNA quoted Trade and Industry Minister Falah Al-Hajeri as saying Kuwait had secured necessary food stocks to supply the population in case of a war. "The ministry has prepared a strategic stock of food to be used in case of a war in the Gulf region as a result of the Iranian nuclear file," he said. Arid Kuwait imports most of its food and it desalinates Gulf water for drinking.
 
Two weeks ago, the Cabinet formed the team, which includes representatives of the defence, interior, oil and health ministries as well as the fire and civil defence departments. Kuwait, a staunch US ally, is worried about any strike on the Bushehr nuclear power station that Russia is building for Iran. The Iranian port city lies less than 300 km from Kuwait. Kuwait has asked NATO to send experts to help assess its readiness to deal with any nuclear radiation.