By IRNA
Riyadh : Bahraini Minister of Defense Major General Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmad al-Khalifa said Tuesday no one can deprive Iran of its right to produce nuclear energy.
According to Saudi `Al Jazirah' newspaper, al-Khalifa made the remark on the eve of the 103rd session of foreign and defense ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Heads of the PGCC states have no objection to Iran's civilian nuclear program, he said.
He stressed that use of nuclear energy for military purposes is not acceptable at all even from Israel in the Middle East.
Participants at the session of the PGCC states are scheduled to exchange views on Iran's nuclear program.
Secretary-General of the PGCC Abdul-Rahman al-Attiya has said outcome of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's visit to five European and Arab states, political crisis in Lebanon, developments in Palestine and Iraq and the Zionist regime's attack on Gaza Strip would be among other issues to be discussed by the PGCC states.
Al-Attiya is scheduled to present a report on PGCC's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on these countries' peaceful nuclear programs.
The PGCC is expected to discuss a recent proposal offered by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal on establishment of a joint nuclear consortium between the PGCC and Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has welcomed the offer.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar are six members of the PGCC.