Gulf states in talks to buy Iron Dome from Israel
Date
10/14/2015 7:51:18 AM
(MENAFN- Asia Times)An Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket from Gaza Strip in Ashkelon
Bahrain's foreign minister Khalid bin Mohammed told the channel that the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council including Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates Oman Qatar and Kuwait are interested in purchasing the Israeli weapon for the entire council.
'The Israelis have their small Iron Dome. We'll have a much bigger one in the GCC' Mohammed said in London.
Mohammed said interest in the Iron Dome has increased as a result of the Iran nuclear deal which will loosen sanctions on Iran.
The Bahraini foreign minister said the agreement will allow Iran to 'stockpile enough missiles to overwhelm any defense system we build in the Gulf.'
The jointly developed US-Israeli systems would be purchased via the US according to Sky News.
'Iran has been trying to undermine and topple government in our region for years' he said.
The Bahraini foreign minister met in London on Tuesday with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.
A deal involving several Gulf states could potentially cost hundreds of billions of dollars Sky News reported.
Aside from the Iron Dome system the deal would also include longer range interceptor missiles such as David’s Sling and the Arrow I and Arrow II capable of intercepting supersonic intercontinental ballistic missiles according to the report.
In May Arabic-language newspaper Rai al-Youm reported that Israel offered Saudi Arabia to use its Iron Dome anti-rocket technology.
The offer was made to the Kingdom to defend its border with Yemen that has come under numerous rocket attacks.
Saudi Arabia reportedly rejected the offer according to the London-based newspaper.
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