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Saudi Official: GCC Armies Ready For Possible US-Iran War

Tuesday November 6th, 2007 / 21h53

The armed forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, are prepared for the possibility of an armed conflict between the U.S. and Iran, Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister said Tuesday.

In reply to a reporter's question on the preparedness of GCC states in the event of such a conflict, Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz said: "This subject is under constant study between defense ministers as the countries of the Gulf have to be always ready for any emergency."

His comments came after a meeting of GCC foreign and defense ministers in Riyadh to discuss growing tensions in the region over Iran's controversial nuclear program.

Tehran vehemently denies U.S. accusations that it is secretly developing an atomic bomb, and insists that its nuclear project is for peaceful purposes.

The pro-U.S. GCC consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Source: AFP