UAE PM brushes aside Iran fears

UAE’s Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, said that the Arab spring populations have waited for change for a long time and that some governments were serving themselves and not really serving the people. “In 2004, I said, ‘please change or you will be changed’,” Bin Rashed said in an interview with CNN International on Monday. Sheikh Bin Rashed said that he was a supporter of change in Egypt. But he said he didn’t fear for the future of Egypt if Islamists take control. “Egypt has a very strong army watching what’s happening and giving the lead for this party,” he said. Sheikh Bin Rashed described the situation in Syria as “complicated” at present. “Syria is more complicated than Egypt or Libya because they have Iraq behind them, they have Lebanon,” he said. “Unless Bashar (al-Assad) changes and starts making things good for the people, they will carry on like this.” Asked about the West’s suspicion of Iran’s controversial nuclear program, Sheikh Bin Rashed ruled out that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon. “Iran is our neighbor. We are Muslims. We have lived next to each other for thousands and thousands of years,” he said, adding that he didn’t believe that Iran was developing a nuclear weapon. “What can Iran do with a nuclear weapon? For example, will they hit Israel? How many Palestinians will die? And do you think when Iran hits Israel, their cities will be safe?” Sheikh Bin Rashed said that his family would continue to rule for as long as people want them to do so. “As long as the people want that,” he said.