Khamenei Calls Saudi Leaders 'Fools'

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, referred to the leaders of Saudi Arabia as 'fools' on Saturday, June 6, stating that they believe they can win the affection of Islam's enemies by giving money and assistance. Speaking on the occasion of the start of Ramadan, he pointed to the problems in today's world, claiming that 'incompetent individuals have taken the fate of some countries in the Islamic world, such as Saudi Arabia, into their hands.' The leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran described Saudi Arabia as a 'milking cow' from which, according to him, 'the enemies of Islam milk their profits and when there is no more milk, they slaughter them.' Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have soured following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and attacks on its diplomatic missions in Iran. Both countries accuse each other of interfering in the affairs of Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, accusations that both sides deny. Nonetheless, a new round of verbal conflict between Iranian and Saudi officials began with statements from Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia. On April 12, he stated in an interview with MBC television that Iran seeks to dominate Muslim countries and therefore there is no possibility of negotiations with Tehran. The Saudi Minister of Defense added that Riyadh would not wait for war to come to Saudi Arabia and would instead strive to bring the battle to Iran. In response to these remarks, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations wrote to the Secretary-General of the organization, calling the Saudi official's statements 'illegal, provocative, a clear threat, and an admission of cooperation with terrorist groups inside Iran.' Iran's Minister of Defense also warned on May 7 that if Saudi Arabia takes action in this regard, 'we will leave no place safe except Mecca and Medina.' However, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated in an interview with Al-Arabi Al-Jadid on May 25 that 'Iran is not seeking to escalate tensions with Saudi Arabia.' He had previously announced on May 24 that if Saudi Arabia stops its 'anti-Iranian statements and policies,' Tehran is ready for bilateral dialogue with Riyadh. A few days later, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of Parliament, described Saudi Arabia as 'the center of terrorist export' on June 2. He claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is 'spreading democracy in the region' and stated that 'one must feel sorry for the King of Saudi Arabia who claims that Iran interferes in the internal affairs of other countries in the region.' Larijani also criticized U.S. policy in the region, addressing the U.S. President, saying: 'The money, reportedly over $500 billion, that you received from the Saudi government to enrich the U.S. economy should be spent on development and progress in the region... so that young people do not fall into the trap of terrorist groups.' This comes as Donald Trump, the U.S. President, on May 21, during a conversation with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and in his speech at a summit of 40 Islamic countries in Riyadh, described Iran as 'the trainer of terrorist groups' and 'a spreader of destruction and chaos in the region.' Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, also stated before Trump's first foreign trip, including to Saudi Arabia and Israel, that forming a coalition against Iran was one of the key objectives of the U.S. President's trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel. Ayatollah Khamenei also accused the leaders of some Islamic countries of being 'friendly with infidels and giving funds that should be spent on improving the lives of their people to infidels and enemies of the people.' In another part of his speech, referring to what he called 'anti-religious behaviors in Yemen and Bahrain,' he added: 'Those who commit such acts against Muslims are false, and falsehood will certainly face decline and downfall.' Iran supports the Shia Houthi group in Yemen, which currently controls the capital, Sana'a, and some areas of Yemen. In contrast, Saudi Arabia supports the legitimate President of the country, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, by forming a regional coalition. Khamenei's reference to Bahrain follows the sentencing of Sheikh Isa Qassim, the leader of the opposition in that country, to one year of suspended imprisonment. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as the largest Shia country in the world, considers itself a supporter of the Shia in Bahrain, while the Bahraini leadership, which is in the hands of a Sunni minority, accuses Tehran of interfering in its internal affairs. Iran denies this accusation. Nevertheless, Iranian officials did not prevent protests on Friday, June 4, in Tehran and several other cities in Iran. According to Iranian news agencies, participants in Friday prayers in Tehran, Qom, Zahedan, Borujerd, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, and several other cities chanted slogans against the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain over what they called 'insulting the revolutionary leader of Bahrain and disrespecting and arresting Sheikh Isa Qassim.'