Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states could turn a page and build strong relations with Iran if it respects them and stops “meddling” in their affairs, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said yesterday.
“If Iran changes its way and its policies, nothing would prevent turning a page and building the best relationship based on good neighbourliness, with no meddling in the affairs of others,” he told reporters in Riyadh.
“There is no need for mediation” in such a case, said Jubeir, whose country severed all links with the Islamic republic in January after crowds attacked the kingdom’s diplomatic missions in Iran.
Jubeir said relations with Tehran had deteriorated “due to the sectarian policies” followed by Iran and “its support for terrorism and implanting of terrorist cells in the countries of the region”.
“Iran is a neighbouring Muslim country that has a great civilisation and a friendly people, but the policies followed that the revolution of (Ayatollah) Khomeini have been aggressive,” he said.
Jubeir was speaking after a meeting for Gulf foreign ministers and their counterparts from Jordan and Morocco.
Qatar’s Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani took part in the meeting.
In a joint statement, ministers meeting in Riyadh urged Iran to respect the landmark nuclear deal it reached with world powers, including curbs on ballistic missiles, as Tehran defiantly fired two more missiles yesterday.
The ministers “stressed the importance of implementing the (UN) Security Council Resolution 2231 concerning the nuclear deal, including what concerns ballistic missiles and other weapons,” it said.
US Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday that the US would take action against Iran if the missile tests were confirmed.
Saudi Arabia and fellow Gulf nations also accuse Iran of supporting Shia rebels in Yemen, as well as attempting to destabilise their own regimes.
They also support rebels in Syria’s five-year-old war while Tehran openly backs the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Gulf nations had recently classified Iran-backed Lebanon’s Shia Hezbollah movement, classifying the militia as a terrorist group.
Saudi Arabia recently blocked $3bn in military aid to Lebanon and urged its citizens to leave the country.
Jubeir said Lebanon is now run by Hezbollah.
“What is disturbing in the Lebanon question is that a militia that is classified as terrorist controls decision-making in Lebanon,” he said.
The ministers stressed the need to deal firmly with the dangerous phenomenon of terrorism and terrorist movements, praising the efforts of their countries in this regard at all international and regional levels.
They also praised Saudi Arabia’s initiative to form an Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism and extremism, stressing the importance of this alliance to strengthen international efforts to combat terrorism.
Emir to attend North Thunder Exercise
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will leave for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this morning to attend the closing manoeuvre of Raad al-Shamal’ (North Thunder) Exercise, and the military parade, which will be held at the King Khalid Military City, Hafr Al Batin , northern region of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi could ‘turn page if Iran changes policies’
