A lawmaker denounced Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal's remarks that Iran is a country that "promotes terrorism" and "occupies lands".
"Were Iran not present on the battlefield against Daesh (the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), the terrorist group would definitely have seized some Arab countries and (probably) even Saudi Arabia," Ahmad Shouhani told ICANA on Saturday, adding, "So it would be better if the officials in these countries were seeking to eradicate Daesh rather than making controversial and interventionist remarks."
Speaking at a joint news conference in Riyadh on Thursday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, the Saudi foreign minister criticized Iran for its reported involvement in fighting in Tikrit, saying, "Iran is taking over the country," the Associated Press reported.
Shouhani dismissed allegations of Iran's military presence in Iraq and Syria, saying it merely plays an "advisory role" in the two countries.
Pointing to the "obvious meddling" of Saudi Arabia in Iraq, particularly over the past few years, the member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said the Arab kingdom and its allies are involved in any conflict happening in the region.
Such remarks by Saudi Arabia come as a reaction to a perceived threat to its interests posed by the growing interaction between Iran and regional and non-regional countries, the parliamentarian added.
