Riyadh Questioned Over Regional Tensions

Saudi Arabia has “questions to answer” over the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the subsequent rise in regional tensions, Iran’s Ambassador to France Abolqasem Delfi told France 24 on Wednesday. Hariri’s shock resignation on Nov. 4 during a trip to Saudi Arabia led to speculation that Riyadh had orchestrated the move as part of a power play against Iran. The Lebanese premier had cited the influence of Iran and its ally Hezbollah in Lebanese politics as one of the reasons for stepping down. Hariri has now returned to Lebanon and put his resignation on hold. According to Delfi, the episode is the latest of a long string of destabilizing actions taken by Saudi Arabia in the region. “Tension in the region started rising a few years ago first with Syria, then Yemen and more recently Qatar and now Lebanon,” he said. “It’s for Saudi Arabia to answer the question why have they acted in this way? Why are they acting in a way that is detrimental to [regional] security and calm?”