Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman: Reforming Saudi Behavior is Essential for Global Peace

In response to a report published in Foreign Affairs regarding the actions and views of the Saudi Crown Prince, which mentioned Iran's role in 'promoting instability and terrorism' in the region, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman accused Saudi Arabia of having 'organized support' for 'terrorist groups.' Bahram Qasemi, in a statement reflected in the state news agency IRNA, said that 'Saudi Arabia is one of the actors whose behavior needs to be reformed for global peace and tranquility.' He further accused Saudi Arabia of 'plunging the region into chaos through organized support for Takfiri terrorist groups.' The state news agency IRNA and other domestic news sources published Mr. Qasemi's comments as a reaction to the recent statements made by the Saudi Minister of Defense and Crown Prince. On Thursday, the American publication Affairs, in a report by Bilal Saeb, focused on the role of the young Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman. The report, titled 'Can Mohammed bin Salman Transform Saudi Arabia?' was published less than two years after King Salman came to power in Saudi Arabia and fundamental changes in the ruling body of the country, including the appointment of two third-generation members of the Saudi family as Crown Prince and Deputy Crown Prince. The report focused on the actions and views of Mohammed bin Salman, the son of the King of Saudi Arabia, who is second in line for succession and concurrently holds the Ministry of Defense. The report mentioned his views on Iran, stating that the Saudi government's perspective, presented by Mohammed bin Salman, considers Iran as the representative and instigator of 'three main troubles in the region': 'borderless ideologies, instability, and terrorism.' The report elaborated on the topic, quoting the Saudi prince as saying that 'there is no room for negotiation with a power that exports its exclusive ideology, participates in terrorist activities, and violates the sovereignty of other countries.' It further quoted Mohammed bin Salman as saying that 'as long as Tehran does not correct its deeply problematic outlook and behavior, Saudi Arabia will suffer from cooperation and proposals for permanent cordial relations with Iran.' These quotes were described by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman as 'fruitless projections,' and Mr. Qasemi stated that 'it has been repeatedly confirmed in the reports of Western intelligence agencies that there is a meaningful and organized connection between official Saudi institutions and Takfiri extremists around the world, and it seems that the Saudi Minister of Defense's statements are a kind of projection regarding these intelligence disclosures, one of which has also been published in recent days.' Mr. Qasemi advised Saudi officials to 'instead of such fruitless projections, seek to reform their methods and behavior and consider the consequences of their destructive policies and actions.' This Iranian Foreign Ministry official also reiterated Iran's accusations regarding the roots of 'Takfiri terrorism' stemming from 'Wahhabi thought.' Iran and Saudi Arabia have experienced a cold and tense period in their bilateral relations, especially after the death of King Abdullah, the former King of Saudi Arabia, and the conflicting interests of the two countries in regional issues such as Syria and Yemen have increased tensions in their relations. Both countries support different groups in Syria and Yemen; while in Syria, Iran is one of the main supporters of Bashar al-Assad's government, Saudi Arabia supports some of his opposing groups, and in Yemen, Saudi Arabia supports the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, while the Houthi rebels benefit from Iran's support. The confrontational role of the two countries in regional crises is interpreted by observers and analysts as a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Syria and Yemen. Meanwhile, Iran's angry reactions to the execution of Sheikh Baqir al-Nimr, a dissenting Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia in 2016, which led to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, resulted in the complete severance of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and one of the effects of this severed relationship was the lack of Iranian pilgrims' attendance at the Hajj pilgrimage this year.