GCC says Iran not invited to summit

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- While the Gulf states want to strengthen ties with Iran, the Gulf Cooperation Council hasn't invited Iranian officials to its next summit, officials said.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani denied to reporters Wednesday in Saudi Arabia that a recent visit by Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to Tehran to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad included an invitation to attend the GCC summit in Muscat, Oman, the Kuwait news agency KUNA reported.

Instead, the prime minister said the trip was made merely to develop the relations between the GCC states and Iran in light of the GCC states' plan to use civilian nuclear energy, KUNA said.

A communique issued by the GCC Ministerial Council in the run-up to the February GCC summit said the Gulf states encourage peace talks between Israel and Syria; praised a memorandum of understanding between the GCC and Turkey to better their relations; and welcomed a Chinese proposal for more strategic dialogue.