Saudi Foreign Minister: Negotiating with Iran for Establishing Relations is 'Ridiculous'

On Tuesday, September 5, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, stated that negotiations for a potential relationship between Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are 'ridiculous'. According to Reuters, al-Jubeir told reporters in London that Iran must change its policies to have a good relationship with his country. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, had stated on September 1 to the ISNA news agency that diplomatic delegations from Iran and Saudi Arabia would visit their embassies in both countries after the Hajj ceremonies. He added that visas for members of the delegations from both countries had been issued and that 'final arrangements' needed to be made. Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh have been cut since January 2016 following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and the burning of the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. In response to Zarif's remarks, al-Jubeir called the Iranian Foreign Minister's statements 'ridiculous'. He stated, 'If Iran wants a good relationship with Saudi Arabia, it must change its policies. This country must respect international laws.' The Saudi Foreign Minister added, 'Currently, we do not see... that they want to be a good neighbor.' He clarified that 'the exchange of diplomatic delegations with Iran regarding arrangements for Hajj does not mean the normalization of relations between the two countries, and such contacts are not related to politics.' Al-Jubeir remarked, 'We had the Hajj season, and when the Hajj ceremonies take place, we do not intend to politicize it... but this does not mean normalization.' According to him, 'Such visits regarding Hajj are not related to political issues. This is a religious matter.' Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been very strained for the past two years, with both countries accusing each other of undermining stability in the region and supporting opposing sides in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Iran supports the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, while Saudi Arabia is one of the main supporters of a group of rebels opposing Damascus. In Yemen, the situation is reversed, as the Arab coalition led by Riyadh conducts airstrikes against Houthi rebels to restore power to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, while Iranian officials have supported the Houthi rebels and have been repeatedly accused of 'sending weapons' to them. In his remarks on Tuesday, al-Jubeir also referred to the crisis in relations between some Arab countries and Qatar, stating that if this tension lasts for another two years, 'it is not a problem.' Last June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates severed their relations with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting extremist forces.