sustain a lead ? SM : The rising tide lifts a lot of places and as the region is booming and growing , financial services are growing throughout the region . Bahrain 's strengths have been and will continue to be its human capital , the people that have led the financial sector and the long standing regulations that have been established in Bahrain . JD : Strategically and a geopolitical question here : the Crown Prince came out and declared what Iran 's intentions really are -- in his view -- for a nuclear policy , and called for greater diplomacy right ahead of a visit by the President of Iran to the country . What 's the motivation here ? SM : We feel that the distraction caused by the Iranian nuclear issue is holding investment back in the region as a whole , and increasing the security threat of the region . Nobody is debating the right to peaceful nuclear power , but we all have that need and we all need a peaceful resolution to this . JD : Historically , Iran has even made claims against Bahrain , what do you do now moving forward
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- This week MME speaks to the man charged with boosting growth in the Kingdom of Bahrain : Sheikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa . Sheikh Mohammed is concerned the nuclear dispute with Iran is deterring potential investors As chief executive of the Economic Development Board , one of Sheikh Mohammed 's main tasks is to ensure Bahrain stays ahead of its competitors . The government 's pushing ahead with economic reforms to reduce the Kingdom 's dependence on oil . But with crude prices near $ 100 a barrel , John Defterios asked whether the appetite for change had diminished . SM : The reforms are being done for aspirational reasons rather than necessity , so we are trying to enter the post-oil area because we want to . And therefore , because of this aspirational aspect , trying to get to as opposed to people pushing us somewhere we do n't want to go . JD : How do you redefine Bahrain 's role ? Traditionally it 's been a financial center , but you have Qatar , Saudi Arabia , Dubai even Abu Dhabi emerging in financial services . How you redefine it to