The mounting criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record indicates that it will not be able to advance a psychological warfare campaign against Iran, says a senior lawmakerl, who also maintains that the era of sanctions on Tehran will be short-lived.
"The killing of Saudi journalist and the world's stance against Saudi Arabia exposed the fact that a dishonest coalition initiated by certain reactionary states, who do not have the least respect for human rights, has been formed against the Islamic Republic," Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh also told ICANA in remarks published on Friday.
Falahatpisheh, who is also the chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, was referring to Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
Saudi Arabia said on Saturday preliminary results of investigations showed the US-based journalist, who was critical of Saudi rulers, died in the consulate after a fight with people he met there, Reuters reported, citing state media.
Riyadh, who had earlier denied it had anything to do with Khashoggi's disappearance, said it has fired several senior officials over his death. This is seemingly to protect Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (aka MBS) who heads the security and intelligence apparatuses.
"Under the current circumstances, Saudi Arabia will not be able to create a psychological atmosphere against Iran in the international arena. Nevertheless, the government … should have plans to counter their psychological warfare," Falahatpisheh said.
>Replacing Iranian Oil
The lawmaker also dismissed claims by the Saudi crown prince that the kingdom can replace sanctions-hit Iranian oil in the market.
Such statements are being made to prevent US President Donald Trump—who has close ties with Saudi Arabia a centerpiece of his foreign policy—from joining calls to hold Riyadh accountable for the killing of the Saudi journalist, the lawmaker said.
Earlier this month, MBS told Bloomberg that the kingdom had met its promise to Washington to make up for Iranian oil supplies lost through US sanctions, reimposed when the United States exited a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six powers.
Washington is pushing allies to cut imports of Iranian oil to zero and will impose a new round of sanctions on Iranian oil sales in November.
But Iran, OPEC's third-largest producer, has repeatedly said its oil exports cannot be reduced to zero because of high demand levels in the market.
Falahatpisheh predicted that the era of sanctions against Iran will soon be over, saying, "The Americans … will not be able to pursue the sanctions policy for a long time."
The parliamentarian did not elaborate but Iranian officials have in the past said Trump's efforts to choke off supplies from the country will cause oil prices to rally, leading to growing instability in the oil market that will negatively impact many countries, including the US.
His policy on Tehran has been criticized by a number of countries, including major world powers and US allies.
>Lobby Groups
In separate remarks published by ICANA on Thursday, Falahatpisheh said Iran should enter into talks with US lobby groups that oppose the imposition of sanctions on Tehran.
"We should use the opportunity and negotiate with influential groups," he said, adding that "severance of all relations would mean blocking the country's access to legal channels to resolve disputes and pursue its legal rights."
