Arab envoy attacks Iran

The United Arab Emirates ambassador to Washington has said he supports military action against Iran to ensure it does not develop nuclear weapons.

Yousef al-Otaiba said Iran "threatened the peace process and the balance of power" in the Middle East and said enduring the initial "backlash" against an attack would be "worth it in the end".

His comments are the most hostile denunciation of Iran to be heard in the Gulf region and reflect growing dissatisfaction in the area with the West's failure to curtail Iran's nuclear programme.

"I think out of every country in the region, the UAE is most vulnerable to Iran," he said.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies, which are Sunni, are vehemently opposed to the growing influence of Iran's Shia Islamic Republic.

The UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait are all home to a substantial American military presence.