The deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs said Iran welcomes good relations with Saudi Arabia and expects the Arab kingdom to play a "constructive role" in the region and take steps to prevent the spread of war, expansion of terrorism and intensification of insecurity in the region by adopting sound policies. Hossein Amir Abdollahian's remarks came in response to the latest allegations against the Islamic Republic by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, who claimed at a press conference in Cairo on Sunday, "Iran is the only country interfering in the Middle East's affairs."
Rejecting the Saudi minister's charges, Amir Abdollahian said, "Iran has always played a constructive role in the region," ISNA reported.
Maintaining security in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Iran and Persian Gulf Arab states are interrelated, he said, adding that "unlike certain states which support terrorism, make instrumental use of terrorism and undermine regional security, Iran strongly supports Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and all other countries that are exposed to terrorist threats."
At the press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, the newly appointed Saudi foreign minister went so far as to warn that the kingdom will not "stand still" over Iran's alleged intervention in the region. "We are looking forward for the day when we can build strong relations with Iran. However, this depends on Iran's behavior and whether it stops intervening in the region's affairs, stops supporting terrorism, stops taking procedures that harm the region's interest and the people's interest. So this is in Iran's hands. The improvement and fortification of the relationship with Iran is up to Iran, however, we will not be silent and stand still over Iran's intervention in the region," Al-Jubeir claimed as reported by Al Arabiya.
