RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has succeeded in containing differences among Persian Gulf Arab states concerning relations with Iran, a diplomat said Friday. The disagreement had threatened to postpone a meeting of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers scheduled for Sept. 11 in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, according to the high-ranking diplomat from a PGCC member state. The diplomat spoke on customary condition of anonymity.

But a recent tour by Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, to capitals of Persian Gulf Arab nations put the meeting back on track, he said. The United Arab Emirates, he said, had threatened to boycott the meeting. Emirates leaders were angry that a Persian Gulf panel formed in July to represent it in its misunderstanding with Iran over an Iranian island has yet to ``make any positive move.'' The tension eased when Saudi Arabia agreed to be a member of the committee, he said.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and the emirates had deteriorated in June because of improved ties between the kingdom and Iran. The emirates complained that the rapprochement ignored its island misunderstanding with Iran. The PGCC is a political and economic alliance grouping Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the emirates, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. (AP)