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TEHRAN: Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, ending his official visit to Iran, has said he is a little worried over the country's and international community's objectives over Iran's nuclear programme.
He fears it could result in misunderstanding and miscalculation.
SM Goh had met several of Iran's leaders before.
So there was a comfort zone to discuss issues at length and in a candid manner, including talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad whom he was meeting for the first time.
SM Goh said: "When he (President Ahmadinejad) talked to me, he looked me in the eye, sort of gaze at you and when I responded to him, he looked at me, he never winked, he just gazed at me. I was talking about the nuclear programme, the role of Iran, he was probably trying to assess for himself, 'Is the man sincere? What is his gameplan? Who is he to tell me all this?'"
Mr Goh said he was able to convey to Iranian leaders how Singapore viewed the nuclear programme issue and the anxiety it has caused to Iran's neighbours.
Senior Minister Goh is concerned that the Middle Eastern region is now in a steady state of uncertainty.
And the problems surrounding Iran's nuclear programme resulted from the hostility between the Iran and the United States.
Unless this hostility diminished, Mr Goh believes that it would be very difficult to make progress on Iran's nuclear programme issue.
SM Goh said: "Iran has reiterated that it will carry on with its nuclear programme for peaceful purposes, therefore it will carry on. And Iran has reiterated that it doesn't intend to build any nuclear weapons.
"But if the international community is not convinced, then there could be a miscalculation. It is that part that I am very concerned with. I don't think a conflict is imminent. I am not saying anyone must have a conflict... I do not see a war coming."
However, Mr Goh stressed that in its engagement with Middle Eastern countries, Singapore is not trying to be a player in resolving issues between them.
There is a larger national interest at stake for Singapore.
SM Goh said: "Oil is very important for Singapore. We just can't assume that we can always get oil from the Middle East. If the whole place is up in flames, where will Singapore get oil from? So we have got to understand what is going on over here."
And, Mr Goh said, the objectives of his visit had been achieved. - CNA/ir
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