Iran still a destabilizing influence in Middle East, Saudi Arabia committed to regional peace: Prince Faisal

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

 Iran continues to fund terrorist militias in order to incite violence in the region, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Friday.


"The region has been unstable for some time and the main source of that instability is Iran and Iran's continuing activity; in the region and its continuing focus on exporting its revolution; on making sure that it continues to be able to manipulate governments in various countries;" said Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

Speaking at the Mediterranean Dialogues Forum; held in Rome, the Saudi minister said Iranian interference is obvious from Lebanon; to Syria, from Yemen to Iraq; where Tehrain continues to fund militias and "use violence to try and further their political agendas, including attacking diplomatic missions."


Prince Faisal also said that "we see Iran having a hand in terrorist plots throughout Europe and other places."

He also said that the Kingdom does not support assassinations, adding that they are "not part of our policy;" referring to the recent killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, an Iranian scientist; in link with Tehran's nuclear program, who died in hospital after dying in his car near the Iranian capital.

Supporting dialogue


The foreign minister said the Kingdom supports dialogue; between the US and Iran and has always been in favor of that.

"The Trump administration was open; to dialogue with Iran, and it was Iran that closed the door to that dialogue," he said; adding "we will be open to real dialogue in the future that addresses significant issues of concern," including nuclear non-proliferation; use of ballistic missiles and "most importantly its destabilizing activities."


He also said the without addressing Iran's malign role; its funding of armed groups and terrorist organizations in the region and its "attempts to impose its will by force on other states; we are not going to have progress."

Engagement with US president

On Saudi Arabia's relationship with the US President-elect Joe Biden, Prince Faisal said: "I think we will have a positive engagement; in general there will not always be a full alignment and there will be areas of disagreement; this has always been the case and it's the case between any two partners.


"But through discussion, dialogue and engagement we will find common ground and work together because in the end we are both in commitment to the same things," he said, adding that these include commitment to a secure and stable region, a global community; that works together toward multilateralism and respect for national sovereignty.


He also said the Biden administration "will find that we have taken a very proactive; positive approach to Yemen by announcing a unilateral cease-fire sometime ago, we have engaged; with them through the UN representative very strongly to try and facilitate a permanent declaration of cease-fire from all parties."


However, he said that the Iran-backed Houthi militia have been reluctant to sign and have put "unacceptable demands; which the government of Yemen has not been able to accept."


The internationally recognized government in Yemen has been battling the Houthis since 2014 in what the United Nations says is one of the biggest humanitarian crises; with over 24 million people – around 80 percent of the population — in need of assistance.


"We are fully in committment towards Yemen to a political resolution to the conflict and we will work happily and very hard with the incoming (Biden) administration in order to make that happen," he said.


While, on the issue of peace in the Middle East, the Saudi foreign minister additionally said that the Kingdom supports a just peace agreement that gives the Palestinians an independent state.

Abraham accords


Asked about the Abraham accords, which was an agreement markedly signed by the UAE and Bahrain officially establishing diplomatic relations; the Saudi minister said that they were important steps toward a potential stable region.


"That did help take annexation off the table and they set the groundwork for potential engagement and we can see them as steps in the right direction; provided that we can now use those agreements as well; as a stepping stone in order to renew engagement between the Palestinians and Israelis, and work toward settling back a dispute that is fair and equitable to the Palestinians and delivers a sovereign state," he said.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
Ajel
english.ajel.sa