Abu Dhabi, Dec. 22, 05 (WAM)--A UAE newspapertoday called for the enlargement of the dialogue's scope on nuclearprogrammes to include Israel. It is the only way to turn theMiddle East into a nuclear free- zone, it said.

Commenting editorially on the issue, the Sharjah-based+The Gulf Today+ said:+ Closely on the heels of the Gulf Co-operationCouncil call that the Middle East should be made a nuclear-freezone, the European Union has begun re-engaging Iran in nucleartalks.

While the six-nation grouping expressed concern over radiationcontamination of the Gulf coast by Iran's Bushehr reactor, theEU worry is about nuclear proliferation in the volatile region.

While the EU is not demonstrating the same concern over Israel'snuclear arsenal - the only country in the region to have weaponsof mass destruction - it is nevertheless important Tehran agreesto accepted norms on inspection of its nuclear facilities. Suchscrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency would helpaddress some of the concerns of the Gulf countries.

The EU is not optimistic that Tehran would readily agree to enrichmentof its uranium in Russia. But the negotiators are willing tocontinue the talks as engaging Iran is crucial to ensure thesecurity and safety of the region from possible nuclear fallout.

Even if there are differences, shutting Iran out of the dialogueis no solution to the current problem.

With patience the EU should persevere with both the carrot andstick so that the international community would have confidencethat Tehran would accept the IAEA norms. Hence the importanceof sticking with the dialogue after it was called off in August.

Now Iran is under pressure to fulfill the IAEA stipulations onuranium conversion. It should join the Nuclear Non-proliferationTreaty and pledge on the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.

If the Iran-EU dialogue were to fail, the issue would be referredto the UN Security Council for sanctions. To avert a showdownTehran should address concerns that it is secretly developingnuclear bombs. The IAEA and the EU-3 of Britain, France and Germanyare worried about Iran's purported plans to enrich uranium toarms-grade level.

Tehran insists on complete nuclear fuel cycle and began uraniumore processing at its Isfahan plant that led the EU to call offthe talks. Now the resumed dialogue can succeed only if Tehranis willing to climb down from its rigid stand. Referral to theSecurity Council could complicate the situation if that wereto be followed by sanctions.

Russia, which is constructing a $1billion nuclear facility inIran, should join China to leverage their diplomatic clout withTehran to avoid a collision course. As the GCC said Iran shouldunequivocally commit to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Forthat it should allow its facilities to be inspected by the IAEAand sign the NPT.

For the talks are to succeed, Israel should be taken on boardand enlarge the dialogue's scope. The Jewish state should abandonits nuclear ambiguity. It is the only way to turn the MiddleEast into a nuclear free zone, the paper concluded.