Iran: Editorial urges Iranian role in emergence of "united Middle East".

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Text of editorial by Said Haqqi: "Formation of a United Middle East Is Inevitable" by Iranian newspaper Mardom Salari on 3 July

Different political and geographical descriptions have been presented about the Middle East. However, the area accepted by strategists and experts of political geography includes the countries of Iran, Jordan, the Emirates, Israel, Bahrain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Egypt and Yemen.

The Middle East is limited to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran from the north, south, west and east respectively.

The region is located in a unique situation with regard to its geo-strategic position and links the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. The most important and sensitive waterways and sea straits such as the Suez Canal, Bosporus, Dardanelle, Hormuz Straits and Bab Al Mandab are located in this region. More than 50 per cent of the oil consumed by the world is …