Saudi Foreign Minister Criticizes Tehran's 'Aggressive Remarks'

Following the latest round of accusations and verbal tensions between Iran and some Arab countries in the region, the Saudi Foreign Minister stated that recent statements and remarks from Tehran "do not reflect the intentions of a country seeking good relations." These critical remarks come after new accusations from Bahrain and Iran's response to those accusations. While Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was beginning a new trip to some Arab countries in the region, Bahrain issued a statement announcing the arrest of two individuals who intended to smuggle weapons from Iran into the country. This statement prompted a reaction from the Iranian Foreign Minister, who said, "Bahrain's claims are absolutely false, and raising these claims is an attempt to prevent any progress in cooperation between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries." Recently, remarks by Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, regarding continued support for Iran's "friends" in the region, including Bahrain, have also led to an official protest from Manama. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are allies. Iran has repeatedly declared its support for Shia groups or their affiliates in some countries in the region. On July 27, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, during a meeting with Federica Mogherini, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, described the statements and remarks of Iranian officials as "unacceptable" and "aggressive." Mogherini's visit to Riyadh is part of Western officials' efforts to present the nuclear agreement to their allied countries, which view the agreement with skepticism or criticism. The Iranian Foreign Minister continued his trip from Kuwait to Qatar and then to Iraq, where he met with the Emir and Foreign Minister in Qatar and with senior government officials in Baghdad, including the Prime Minister. Iran has not yet responded to the recent remarks from the Saudi Foreign Minister. In this context, Bahrain recalled its ambassador from Tehran and labeled Iran's accusations regarding "arms smuggling" as "unconstructive."