Saudi foreign minister urges Iran to stop its current policy towards Arabs
CAIRO, January 10. /TASS/. Iran must drop its "aggressive policy" and stop interfering
into domestic affairs in Arab countries, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on
Sunday after an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers dedicated to
the current crisis in relations between Riyadh and Teheran.
He put the blame for instigating sectarianism in the region on Iran. He said today's
meeting was a strong message to Teheran that Arab countries condemned its
interference into their domestic affairs.
Iran must stop supporting terrorism, change its religious policy and stop interfering into
Arab affairs, the Saudi foreign minister said. He called on Arab countries to consolidate
in order to stand up to Iran's aggression and solve arising problems peacefully. Teheran
must help anti-terror efforts rather than support terrorism, he stressed.
If Iran keeps on supporting terrorism and sectarianism, it will have to face resistance Of
all Arab states, al-Jubeir said. The latest attack on the Saudi embassy is yet another
incident in the 30-year history of Iran's aggression. Riyadh's subsequent severing of
diplomatic and trade relations with Iran was the first step to be followed by other
measures, if Teheran continues its policy, he said, adding that today's meeting had
looked at possible additional steps in this direction.
Apart from that, in his words, Saudi Arabia plans to discuss such measures with both its
regional and international allies. He did not say however what kind of measures might be
taken.
The Saudi foreign minister said a number of countries had offered mediation in settling
the current crisis with Iran.
Today's extraordinary meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers was convened at
Riyadh's official request. The foreign ministers said in a statement after the meeting that
the Arab League condemns attacks on Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran.
All the Arab League members had supported the final communique but for Lebanon,
which had opted to abstain. Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elarabi explained
Beirut's position by the fact that the final communique has the mention Of the Lebanese
Shia movement Hezbollah.
Another spiral of the crisis in Riyadh-Tehran relations followed when Saudi Arabia on
January 2 executed prominent Shiite theologian cleric Nimr al-Nimr, arrested back in
2012 for criticizing the ruling regime and making calls for the observance Of religious
minorities' rights and carrying out a constitutional reform.
In the evening of the same day crowds of furious Iranian demonstrators stormed the
building of Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran and the consulate office in Mashhad.
Riyadh severed relations with Teheran. Bahrain, Sudan and Djibouti supported Saudi
Arabia. The United Arab Emirates downgraded the level of diplomatic representation and
Kuwait and Qatar recalled their ambassadors. Apart from that, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
halted air service with Iran.
Response: This article is very obviously biased towards Saudi Arabia. The author fails to mention any action that Saudi Arabia could have taken to further increase the problems with Iran, as well as any justifiable actions Iran has taken (if there are any). I respect that Saudi Arabia is trying to find a peaceful solution in the face of the terrorism and violence that Iran is bringing forth. However, while I really do respect the peaceful direction that Saudi Arabia is trying to take, I don't think it's completely realistic. After the Arab League members met and supported Saudi Arabia Iranian demonstrators responded with violence immediately. Saudi Arabia's desire for peace is very commendable but it might take force against force for Iran to back down.
Citation: "Saudi foreign minister urges Iran to stop its current policy towards Arabs." 10 Jan. 2016. TASS. 12 Jan. 2016. <http://tass.ru/en/world/848637
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