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Saudi Policies Hinder Meaningful Dialogue

Saudi Policies Hinder Meaningful Dialogue
Saudi Policies Hinder Meaningful Dialogue

An analyst said a fruitful relationship between Tehran and Riyadh would not materialize unless the latter stops its aggressive policies against the "axis of resistance" and reconsiders its relations with US and Israel.

"At present, one cannot be optimistic about Riyadh-Tehran dialogue because of the Saudi leader's adoption of an anti-resistance front and standing alongside the US and Israeli regime—which itself is antithetical to axis of resistance," Hassan Hanizadeh said in a recent talk with ISNA.

The "axis of resistance" is an anti-Israeli front made up of Iran, Syria, Lebanese group Hezbollah and Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

Hanizadeh said Saudi Arabia is now acting at the behest of the US and Israel in the region and wants to see the resistance front defeated.

Riyadh's hostile approach toward such groups as Hezbollah has intensified since Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has assumed power in the oil-kingdom last year.

Pointing to comments by influential Iraqi cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim about making efforts toward a Riyadh-Tehran rapprochement, Hanizadeh said, "Given the aggressive view of bin Salman [toward Iran and its allies], it seems very unlikely that there would be a breakthrough in relations."

"Although Hakim's stance is reasonable, rapprochement will not be possible unless Riyadh changes its course from following the US-Israeli interests to that of Muslim interests," he said.

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday criticized Riyadh for its covert—and at times overt—relations with Israel.

Saudi Arabia's alignment with the United States and Israel is certainly a "betrayal" of Muslims, he said.

"Such warmongering among the world of Islam must be stopped and we should not allow that a safe haven be created for the Zionist regime," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

Highlighting the concept of unity among Muslim nations, the Leader, however, said, "We're ready to act brotherly even with those among Muslims who were once openly hostile to Iran," in an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia.

The world of Islam, with such a large population and plenty of facilities, can certainly create a great power within the world and become influential through unity, the Leader concluded.

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