Joint Statement of Four Arab Countries Against Iran

Arab media reports that during a meeting of the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, a statement was issued against Tehran, accusing Iran of interfering in Arab countries' affairs and supporting 'terrorist groups.' According to the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the statement from the quartet group stated that Iran 'must cease its anti-[Arab countries] actions, stop its support for terrorist and subversive groups, and end its issuance of aggressive and provocative statements.' The Saudi Gazette reported that the quartet committee stated that relations between the Arab parties and Iran should be based on 'mutual respect, respect for territorial integrity, and good neighborliness.' The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain claimed that Tehran is involved in the crises in Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria. These four ministers reiterated their support for the UAE's territorial claims regarding the islands in the Persian Gulf, which Iran has consistently rejected. Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, had previously stated that Tehran does not interfere in Bahrain's affairs. However, just days prior, Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, had threatened that the revocation of citizenship of a prominent Shia cleric in that country would lead to 'armed resistance' and the 'fall of the Bahraini regime.' On the other hand, statements regarding regime change in rival countries have been made by a former influential Saudi official, and similar comments have been made regarding Iran. Turki al-Faisal, the former head of Saudi intelligence, stated at a meeting of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization that 'I too want the regime' of the Islamic Republic to be overthrown. While some Arab countries have accused Iran of supporting terrorism, Tehran has leveled the same accusation against 'some countries in the region.' Notably, just hours before the recent meeting, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that 'the true fathers of al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Taliban want to accuse Iran of terrorism to downplay their dark record.' Relations between Iran and neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have faced numerous tensions. Iran is also considered a supporter and ally of the central governments of Syria and Iraq, where various groups are engaged in conflicts with the 'Islamic government.' In Yemen, Iran is seen as an ally of the Houthi rebels. Tehran has yet to respond to the new statement from the quartet of Arab countries.