Saudi Arabia: We are also prepared to use military power against Iran

The Saudi Foreign Minister expressed hope that Iran would change its policies and refrain from interfering in the affairs of regional countries, while also threatening that Riyadh is even prepared for military confrontation with Iran's actions. Adel al-Jubeir, on Monday, October 19, stated at a joint press conference with the German Foreign Minister: "We hope Iran changes its policies and stops interfering in the affairs of regional countries, in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon." According to the Saudi Foreign Minister, the country will use "all its political, economic, and military capabilities" to "defend its sovereignty and people against Iran's actions." These remarks by Adel al-Jubeir came on a day when Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, once again made harsh remarks against Saudi Arabia. Khamenei had previously threatened Saudi Arabia with a "harsh and severe reaction" in response to the Mina incident. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, also stated a few days ago that "Saudi Arabia's efforts to eliminate Iran from the region lead to bloodshed and exacerbate conflicts," calling for an end to this trend. In response to these remarks, al-Jubeir stated that "when Saudi Arabia and its people are the target of constant Iranian attacks, having positive relations is difficult." Saudi Arabia, a wealthy Sunni Arab kingdom, has been heavily engaged in regional rivalries with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the largest Shiite-majority country in the Middle East, in recent years. The two countries support rival factions and sometimes enemy forces in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon. Iran's nuclear program has also been another concern for the Saudi kingdom during this time.