Middle East News
Former Iraqi premier Allawi says he fears major crisis over Iran
Aug 28, 2010, 16:59 GMT
Berlin - The Arab world fears a major crisis is about to break out over Iran, former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi has said in an interview with the German news magazine Der Spiegel.
'I'm definitely not an advocate of Iran's policies. In fact I'm sure they have a ban on me visiting there. But I do think the world should keep on talking with Iran to see and to feel what Iran is scared of.
'The Iranians are reasonable. We should try to make clear to them that it is not in their own interest to get nuclear arms,' he told Spiegel, which is set for publication Monday. Spiegel released the interview in advance to other media on Saturday.
Allawi is seeking the office of prime minister after a deadlocked election this year failed to produce a clear winner.
Spiegel asked him why Arab nations were arming themselves as the crisis over Iran's nuclear research programme builds up.
'Fear rules in the whole region, in America too, in Iran too. We are heading towards a situation that is almost like the Cuban missile crisis of October. This fear is spreading over us like a great veil.
'Everyone should do whatever is humanly possible to prevent new tensions,' he said.
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