Arab FMs condemn Iran’s meddling in Saudi

Arab foreign ministers have condemned Iran’s interference in Saudi affairs, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed said on Saturday.

Bin Zayed was speaking during a press conference held with his Saudi counterpart Adel Al-Jubeir and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby following the conclusion of the Arab foreign ministers’ meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

Relations between the Arab world and Iran were discussed at the meeting, including Tehran’s interventions in Lebanon and Iraq.

“Iran is our neighbour and it should determine its identity as a neighbour, whether it wants to act like a peaceful or hostile neighbour especially at a time when we see Tehran working to reform its relationship with the West but does not take a similar step towards the Arabs,” he said, pointing out that the UAE will not favour its economic interests with Iran over the political interests.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has refused to support the Arab League resolution condemning Iran, an Arab League statement said yesterday.

The Arab Ministerial Meeting was attended by 18 of the 21 foreign ministers.

Elaraby said at the press conference that a committee will be setup to follow up on developments with Iran and will submit its findings at the league’s meeting in March.

“Iran should reject intervention and its support for terrorism in order to live as a neighbour and if it continues to support terrorism, it will face opposition from Arab countries,” Saudi’s Al- Jubeir told reporters.

“We have to unify the Arab and Islamic countries to confront Iran’s policies and persuade it to become a state which builds its relations with neighbouring countries on non- interference in their affairs.”

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran deteriorated in the wake of Riyadh’s execution of prominent Saudi Shia cleric Nimr Al-Nimr.

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