based Al-Watan said Iran has threatened the UAE and the other neighboring fraternal and friendly countries. The paper also referred to Tehran's warnings against repetition of statements spelled out earlier by the UAE's foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah al-Nahyan in this context. The daily also recalled the remarks of the official spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry in which he said 'we advice officials in the UAE and the fraternal and friendly neighboring countries to be accurate in their statements'. The spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry had noted that comparing the Israeli occupation of Arab territories with Iranian occupation of the UAE'S Islands, has caused some sensitivities among the Iranian people. He had also affirmed that any linkage of Israeli occupation with that of the Iranian occupation will face a vigorous response from the Iranian people. "Tehran knows that the citizens of the region will never tolerate partition of their region by either Iran or Israel," said the daily, adding that Iran should realize the fact that it is viewed by the Arabs in general and the gulf people in particular as an enemy which is trying to become a regional power with the acquisition of a large nuclear arsenal equal to the size of the existing Israeli nuclear weapons storage as Tel Aviv has already acquired the position of a nuclear power. Moreover, Tehran should be aware of the fact that its threats to the UAE and its neighbors in addition to its ambitions to acquire nuclear power will make it more isolated. Additionally, Tehran's policy will pave the way for the American forces to station at its borders indefinitely, in addition to providing Israel with justifications to continue its occupation of the Arab territories and escalate its conflict with Iran to share influence in the region."
