Saudi Arabia Calls for Coordinated Action Among Arab Countries to Counter 'Iran Threat'

Ibrahim al-Assaf, the Saudi Foreign Minister, on Friday, April 9, described the Islamic Republic of Iran's 'interference' in Arab countries as the most significant 'threat' to the Arab world and called for coordinated action in this regard. Al-Assaf made these remarks during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Tunisia, held a day before the summit of the leaders of member states of this union. The Saudi Foreign Minister stated, 'Iran's interventions in Arab countries by the Revolutionary Guard and its affiliated militias in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon are among the most dangerous forms of terrorism and extremism, and confronting it requires cooperation from all Arab countries.' The Iranian government has consistently denied threatening Arab countries in the region. Al-Assaf also stated that Arab countries must take action to stop Iran's missile programs. He further mentioned that Iran has provided missiles to the Houthi rebels in Yemen to target Saudi Arabian cities. The Riyadh-led coalition, consisting of eight other Arab countries, has been involved in Yemen's civil war since 2015, formed after the Iran-backed Houthis took power in Sana'a from the Yemeni government led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who then fled to Aden and subsequently to Saudi Arabia. Iranian officials have never concealed their verbal support for the Houthis but claim they do not interfere in the events of that country and do not send weapons. The Saudi Foreign Minister also emphasized that, from Riyadh's perspective, the Palestinian efforts to establish an independent state in the territories occupied by Israel are a fundamental demand of all Arab countries. Khamis al-Jahinaoui, the Tunisian Foreign Minister, also reported on the coordinated response of the Arab Union regarding the U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights as part of Israeli territory. It is expected that one of the main topics at this year's Arab League summit in Tunisia will be the reaction to the U.S. decision regarding the Golan Heights. According to Reuters, al-Jahinaoui stated during the meeting, 'We, along with Arab countries and the international community, will cooperate to mitigate the consequences of this decision in regional and international forums.' He did not provide further details, but Arab countries are calling for Washington to retract this decision and prevent other countries from following the U.S. lead. Arab countries consider the Golan Heights, which were seized by Israel in the 1967 war, as occupied Syrian territory and condemned last week's decision by Donald Trump to recognize this area as part of Israeli territory. The Trump administration also sparked outrage among Arab countries last year by moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. However, a knowledgeable source stated that U.S. decisions regarding Jerusalem and the Golan Heights have apparently not hindered security contacts in recent years between the Israeli government and America's Arab allies in the Gulf region aimed at countering Iran. Tunisia currently holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League and is one of the candidates for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council. Israel occupied the Golan Heights and eastern Jerusalem in the 1967 war, but the international community has never recognized the annexation of these two areas into its territory.