Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday, he said Qatar is one of the first countries to support and encourage settling the nuclear issue through peaceful means.
He said there are two views in the region on the deal. “One says the deal might relax Iran and give it the confidence that there is no conspiracy theory and will make Tehran have better and positive approach towards our region. The other view we would like not to see is this will give Iran more means, mainly financial means, to continue doing what it has been doing in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
“So, with these two views, in Qatar we would like to see the more positive view, which is Iran getting little bit more relaxed, which will reflect on the attitude positively towards the region,” he said.
“Let me emphasise one very clear point here. Our [difference] with Iran is not a bilateral one. Qatar has a traditional relation with Iran, so it’s not a bilateral difference, it’s a regional difference.
“And when I say a regional difference I mean on the position in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen,” he added. Asked about Israel’s position that condemned the deal, Dr Al Attiyah said: “First of all, let me tell you that Israel’s [reasoning] is different from our [reasoning]. Israel’s [reasoning] in the region is to have the military edge over the Middle East, while our reason [is] not granting any of the Middle East region with a military nuclear power whether it’s Iran or Israel, so [these are two different reasoning]. He said Qatar is keen on the region’s safety and security and that it is free from any nuclear danger.
Dr Al Attiyah said every country has the right to peaceful nuclear programme as long as it is placed under international control and supervision. If it goes out of control, then it is the right of the countries in the region to have the nuclear technology, he added.
To a question on 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup bid, he said: “We don’t fear anything on this because we have presented the best file and we deserve to host a World Cup in Qatar for the Arab region, for the Middle East and North Africa youth and they deserve to have this World Cup in Qatar. All these allegations [have] to do with FIFA. This is [an] allegation that goes 20 years back, even before Qatar [thought] to host the World Cup.”
Regarding living conditions of workers in Qatar, Dr Al Attiyah said Qatar has been working hard on this, adding the problem is not concerning Qatar alone.
It is also concerning companies, many of which are from the West which are more keen to make profit than looking after their workers and improving their conditions. The Peninsula
