UAE deal raises proliferation fears

Barack Obama's administration yesterday took on congressional critics in two disputes over nuclear proliferation in the Middle East when it decided to back a deal with the United Arab Emirates and warned legislators against imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran.

The moves follow the US president's meeting this week with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, when the Mr Obama announced he would give the US's diplomatic reaching out to Iran at least until the end of this year to succeed.

Yesterday, Mr Obama said he would proceed with a civil nuclear deal with the UAE agreed at the end of George W. Bush's presidency. Supporters of the deal say it diminishes the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East - and allows the US to enter into lucrative industrial deals - but detractors feel the UAE represents a proliferation risk.