Saudi Foreign Minister: European Trade with Iran Strengthens Terrorism Supporters

The Saudi Foreign Minister states that trade between European companies and Iran strengthens the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and inadvertently fuels its military activities across the Middle East. Adel al-Jubeir made these remarks on Sunday, February 18, during an interview with CNBC and on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, stating, "We believe that a large part of Iran's economy is run by the IRGC and its affiliated companies. We believe that any transaction with these companies only strengthens the IRGC and creates a wave that leads them to commit more mischief in the region and the world." Al-Jubeir's comments may refer to billions of dollars in trade contracts between European companies and Iran following the nuclear agreement in July 2015 between Tehran and six world powers, which were concluded in sectors such as automotive, oil and gas, aircraft sales, and investment in other areas of Iran's economy. Al-Jubeir's view on rejecting European trade with Iran is somewhat similar to the opinions expressed by Herbert McMaster, the U.S. National Security Advisor, on Saturday at the Munich Conference. McMaster warned European parties that investing in Iran is akin to "writing a check" for the IRGC, an organization that the U.S. claims has played a central role in making Iran a leading country in supporting terrorism. The U.S. National Security Advisor added, "When you invest in Iran, you are investing in the IRGC, a military organization that is deeply rooted in Iran's economy and has been sanctioned by the U.S." He also emphasized that the IRGC is a tool for "spreading violence" for the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that this regime uses institutions affiliated with the IRGC, such as Mahan Air, to spread violence. The U.S. government and its regional allies, especially Saudi Arabia, have always accused Iran of interfering in the affairs of regional countries, including Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, and of "destabilizing" the Middle East, pursuing its goals through the Quds Force of the IRGC by training and arming proxy networks. The Islamic Republic of Iran has denied these allegations and, in turn, accused the U.S. and its supporters in the Middle East of "fomenting discord." In another part of his interview with CNBC, the Saudi Foreign Minister named Iran as one of the dangerous countries in terms of cyber attacks, claiming that his country is "constantly" targeted by the Islamic Republic in this regard. Al-Jubeir noted that Riyadh has begun measures to counter Iran's cyber warfare. He stated, "We have taken all necessary actions to defend our banking and internet data, etc. We have also taken steps to train our forces so they can engage in offensive operations to make it impossible for others to infiltrate these systems." Previously, the U.S. and Israel had also accused Iran of regularly attacking the critical, financial, and military infrastructures of these countries. According to a report published in October by the security company FireEye, hackers likely linked to the Iranian government were behind attacks on petrochemical and aerospace companies in Saudi Arabia and the West, indicating that Iran's cyber espionage capabilities are increasing. Iran, which claims to face "10,000" attacks from hackers daily, has sometimes pointed the finger at Saudi Arabia. For instance, in the case of hackers attacking several Iranian government websites in June 2016, the Cyber Police claimed that these actions were carried out by "three companies centered in Saudi Arabia," although later the Cyber Crime Investigation Center of the IRGC announced that hackers of some government websites had been arrested. Iran has also been recognized as responsible since 2012 for the hacking of several U.S. banks, hacking a small dam near New York, and attempts to attack the accounts of officials in Barack Obama's administration. Recently, a report published by the Carnegie Endowment in the U.S. indicates that security agencies in Iran, like other security agencies around the world, have increasingly become skilled in cyber espionage and destructive attacks. These actions range from targeting opponents of the Iranian government inside and outside the country, and civil institutions in Iran, to government, defense, commercial, and diplomatic organizations in the U.S., Israel, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. This report, focusing on the destructive actions of the Iranian government in cyberspace, notes that the Iranian government conducts its offensive operations in cyberspace under the guise of misleading public accounts to demonstrate its capabilities while evading responsibility for such actions.