Dhabi, Nov. 13, 2008 -- Two major UAE English dailies today commented on the latest development in the tense relations between the United States and Iran on the latter's nuclear programme in the light of the latest IAEA statement that documents alleging that Iran has a nuclear weapons programme may have been fabricated, and the rapprochement step taken by Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to congratulate the US President-elect, Barack Obama, which provided a historic opportunity for improving US-Iran relations.

Commenting on the first issue under the title "Yet another reason to rejoice", the Sharjah-based "The Gulf Today" said: "IT is neither surprising nor shocking for us to hear that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has obtained evidence suggesting that documents alleging that Iran has a nuclear weapons programme may have been fabricated.

"US intelligence got those documents in 2004 in the form of electronic files allegedly stolen from a laptop computer belonging to an Iranian researcher. These documents, which were described as technical studies for a secret Iranian nuclear weapons-related research programme, formed the main basis for the US campaign for international sanctions against Iran, according to Gareth Porter, an investigative journalist and historian who has authored numerous foreign policy analyses.

"Haven't we heard something similar earlier? "Of course we have, and that is why we are neither surprised nor shocked. We have heard similar reports earlier in connection with the US drive for the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, with the Bush administration producing fabricated and doctored intelligence reports alleging that Saddam Hussein had an active programme to produce weapons of mass destruction. Earlier, another fabricated report alleged that Saddam had a role in the Sept. 11 attacks in the US and thus military action against him could be justified.

"In the Iran case, Porter quotes a source close to the IAEA in Vienna as saying that the new evidence of possible fraud has increased pressure within the IAEA secretariat to distance the agency from the suspect documents.

"That would mean the rug being pulled from under the entire US-led campaign against Iran.

"Porter reports that the suspect documents include what the IAEA has described in a published report as technical drawings of efforts to redesign the nosecone of an Iranian ballistic missile "to accommodate a nuclear warhead." The papers are also said to include studies on the use of a high explosive detonation system, drawings of a shaft apparently to be used for nuclear tests, and studies on a bench-scale uranium conversion facility.

"These technical papers, along with some correspondence related to the alleged secret Iranian programme have been the primary basis during 2008 for the insistence by the US-led international coalition pushing for sanctions against Iran that the Iranian case must be kept going in the United Nations Security Council.

"Under normal circumstances, few would believe that the world's sole superpower would stoop so low to fabricate documents in order to press a campaign against a country that is hostile to its interests. But in this case, the world could not but believe it because of the record of the Bush administration, which has proved itself to be a ruthless bully which would not stop at anything to have its way around the world.

"Definitely, the world should be rejoicing. It is indeed a big relief that the Bush administration is leaving the White House. Of course, we have no assurance or guarantee that the incoming Barack Obama administration would definitely be different from the outgoing one. But we do know that it would never be a match for the Bush administration when it comes to deception and bare-faced lies." Commenting on the second issue under the title "Historic Opportunity for Iran, US" the Dubai-based "Khaleej Times" said: "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad's congratulatory message to US President-elect Barack Obama is an opportunity that should be exploited by both sides. The goodwill letter by a leader whose country doesn't have diplomatic relations with Washington is a welcome sign. This reciprocates to a great extent the overtures made by Barack Obama during his presidential campaign and his agenda for change. The President-elect repeatedly argued in favour of unconditional talks with ?enemies' like Iran.

"But this exchange of goodwill notes is not exactly new in the otherwise strained US-Iran relations. Former presidents Khatami and Clinton played to the gallery while propagating the doctrine of ?Dialogue between Civilisations'.

"Iran was amongst the first countries that sympathised with the Americans after the World Trade Towers came crumbling down on September 11, 2001. It even backed the US invasion of Afghanistan and the so-called war on terror. Washington paid back by coming to the aid and rescue of Teheran with loads of humanitarian assistance, when the southern province Bam was destroyed in a 2003 earthquake. President Ahmadinejad even wrote a letter to President Bush in May 2006, urging him to be ?pious and orderly' in dealing with other countries.

"But all said and done, Iran and the US are divided by a historical baggage of mistrust, animosity and old-fashioned hatred.

"They have nursed a culture of animosity since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent hostage-taking crisis. Indeed, both have banked on bad blood to further their domestic agenda, and have been at loggerheads for pure political compulsions. The two countries had their interests converging in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11. Though both do not prescribe to a similar policy approach in Middle East, they still need each other in the region. Teheran's obsessive nuclear programme and its support for Hezbollah remain the major irritants in their relationship.

"But Obama's ascent is a historic opportunity for the two countries to break new ground for peace in the region and better bilateral relations. Obama has called for a sustained approach in discussing everything under the sun with Iran - a policy that is in contrast to the ?ifs' and ?buts' of Bush legacy. Ahmadinejad needs to respond in an appropriate manner, and rein in the hawks. Iran should recognise that a generational change is taking place in the United States. The incoming leader has so far shunned lobbies and power brokers in Washington. Hopefully, this will reduce the clout of the Israeli lobby groups and there will be a more even-handed approach to the Middle East in Washington. Obama has also talked of a fair deal and resolving the Palestine question. The buck now stops with Teheran." (WAM/SA)