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Riyadh Urged to Change Tack on Tehran

Riyadh Urged to Change Tack on Tehran
Riyadh Urged to Change Tack on Tehran

A lawmaker called on Saudi Arabia to modify its policy toward Iran, seeing it as a powerful neighbor, not a foe.

Shahrouz Barzegar, a member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said, “Saudi Arabia would be well advised to look at Iran as a powerful neighbor and not follow the US policies as they would not lead to any achievement for it,” ICANA reported on Friday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has supported the hostile US President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran after he decided not to certify that Tehran is complying with the 2015 nuclear accord, even though international inspectors say it has done so.

Addressing a conference in London last Tuesday, Jubeir contended that the nuclear deal had shortcomings and that he agreed with Trump’s assessment that Iran was working to destabilize the region and was funding militant organizations.

Barzegar said the oil kingdom needs to exercise prudent judgments in relations with the US, warning that Trump’s support for the Muslim country would be “short-lived”.

Pointing to the huge arms deal signed between Riyadh and Washington, the parliamentarian said Saudi Arabia is expected to toe the US line regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

In his first overseas trip as president in May, Trump sealed an arms deal with Saudi Arabia worth $350 billion over 10 years, with nearly $110 billion to take effect immediately. The agreement was said to be aimed at bolstering security in the face of perceived Iranian threats.

Barzegar also criticized the US-backed Saudi coalition for waging a devastating war against Yemen.

“Today, the innocent people of Yemen are killed at the hands of Saudi forces,” he said, adding that accusing Iran of destabilizing activities are “baseless allegations” that are aimed at escaping from reality.

Since 2015, the devastating conflict has destroyed most of the country and claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people. It has also led to an unprecedented cholera outbreak that has infected more than 700,000 people and displaced millions in a country that was the poorest nation in the Middle East even before the war.

 

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