"Leaders commissioned a study by members of the Gulf Co-operation Council to set up a common programme in the area of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, according to international standards," read a GCC statement.
The statement read out on Sunday in Riyadh by Abdul Rahman al-Attiyah, the secretary-general of the political and economic alliance, did not elaborate on the plan by the GCC, which is comprised of
"We hope that our statements [on the study] will not be misunderstood,"
"This is not a secret and we are doing this out in the open. Our aim is to obtain the technology for peaceful purposes, no more no less."
Standoff with West
Gulf countries have expressed worry over neighbouring
The
Iran, however, insists its programme is for peaceful purposes, and its Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, has repeatedly vowed to press on with enrichment.
Iran's first reactor in Bushehr is projected to go on line in late 2007.
Security focus
Officials in the
On Sunday, Gulf leaders reiterated their position that the standoff with
