Saudi Arabia: Iran Has No Role in the Arab World Other Than to Exit It

Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, harshly criticized the policies of the Islamic Republic during a meeting in New York, stating, "Iran has no role in the Arab world except to exit it." A significant portion of al-Jubeir's remarks at the think tank 'Council on Foreign Relations' in New York on October 4 was dedicated to Iran. He stated that due to the return of sanctions, Iranians will face increasing economic and political pressure. Referring to what he described as Iran's isolation in the region, among Islamic countries, and globally, he added: 'We will succeed [against Iran]... Iran's situation is not stable.' In another part of his remarks regarding Iran, he said, 'Iranians have been doing all bad things continuously for the past 35 years.' He then pointed to the nuclear agreement made during Barack Obama's presidency between Iran and six world powers, stating that Iran's activities and actions 'especially after the signing of the JCPOA, have increased.' Al-Jubeir claimed that the Iranian government has gained 'access to billions of dollars' and added, 'I have not seen them build a street or a hospital. But missiles have been sent to the Houthis, explosives have gone to Bahrain, and money has been spent on the war in Syria.' Iran has denied accusations of sending weapons to the Houthis. Tehran claims it entered the Syrian campaign at the invitation of the 'central government of Syria' and 'to fight against terrorism.' The Islamic Republic, in turn, has accused Saudi Arabia of 'producing, nurturing, and spreading terrorism' in the region and the world. In a part of the Q&A session at the 'Council on Foreign Relations,' the Saudi Foreign Minister implicitly stated that there has been no dialogue with Russia regarding Iran; 'We do not talk to anyone to talk to Iran. Our approach is this: Iran has no role in the Arab world to play except to exit it.' Al-Jubeir's remarks are part of the harsh criticisms expressed in the past two or three days, since the beginning of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, by the President of the United States, several U.S. government officials, and officials from U.S. allied countries in the region, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Donald Trump stated: 'Iranian leaders sow the seeds of chaos, death, and destruction.' On the other hand, senior Iranian officials have also directed attacks at the U.S. and its allies during the UN General Assembly and surrounding meetings. Rouhani stated: 'The U.S. should return to the negotiating table it has disrupted.' The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, after the deadly attacks in Ahvaz, which the Security Council called 'terroristic,' pointed the finger at Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday, 'The hands of the perpetrators of the Ahvaz attack are in the pockets of Saudi Arabia and the UAE,' adding that Iran will 'severely punish' those behind the attack. Saudi Arabia has rejected and condemned these statements. The U.S. Secretary of Defense also described the accusations of some Iranian officials against his country regarding involvement in the deadly attacks in Ahvaz as 'ridiculous' and stated that he is not concerned about a threat from a Revolutionary Guard official regarding a response to the U.S.