Saudi King Calls for International Unity to Stop 'Iran's Interference in the Region'

The King of Saudi Arabia, who traveled to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, to participate in the Arab-European Union summit, called on Sunday, March 5, for international unity to stop what he termed 'Iran's support for militias and interference in the affairs of regional countries.' King Salman stated that 'Iran's support for Houthi militias in Yemen and other militias in the region, along with aggressive actions and blatant interference in the affairs of other countries, necessitates a unified global stance to compel Iran to adhere to international regulations and end its nuclear and missile programs.' He further emphasized that his country is interested in a political solution to the Yemen crisis based on 'Gulf initiatives,' the results of Yemeni national dialogues, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216. The Saudi King specified that Saudi Arabia has made significant efforts to ensure the success of negotiations that took place last December in Stockholm among Yemeni parties. He called for the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and holding the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militias accountable for the situation in Yemen. The warring parties in Yemen agreed last month, with UN mediation, on a ceasefire in Hodeidah during a peace conference in Sweden. They also agreed on the first phase of withdrawing their forces from the port of Hodeidah. Hodeidah, located in western Yemen, is the country's main commercial port, and battles between Houthi rebels and the Saudi coalition have been particularly intense in this area. Iran's support for the Houthi militias in Yemen and other militias in the region, along with aggressive actions and blatant interference in the affairs of other countries, necessitates a unified global stance to compel Iran to adhere to international regulations and end its nuclear and missile programs. The control of the port of Hodeidah remains in the hands of the Iran-backed Houthis, and Saudi coalition forces have gathered on the outskirts of Hodeidah. Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have soured following conflicts in Syria and Yemen, with officials from both countries frequently taking positions against each other. An assessment by 16 US intelligence agencies regarding the movements of the Islamic Republic of Iran in connection with Yemen throughout 2018 also states that Tehran's support for the Houthis, including the provision of ballistic missiles, continued. The assessment emphasizes that Iran's support has enabled the Houthis to attack Bab al-Mandab and targets deep within Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; some of these attacks have been carried out with missiles and others with drones. In the latest exchange of accusations between the two countries, Iranian officials accused Saudi Arabia of supporting the perpetrators of the explosion of a bus carrying members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In response, Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, rejected this accusation and labeled the Islamic Republic of Iran as 'the biggest supporter of terrorism.' King Salman stated that 'Saudi Arabia, like many other countries, has suffered from terrorism and has been at the forefront of many international efforts to combat it at all levels.' The Saudi King identified among these efforts 'drying up the financial resources of terrorist groups and emphasizing the continuation of joint action against the financing and money laundering of terrorists.' This claim comes as the European Commission proposed on February 13 of this year to add seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, to the money laundering blacklist. The European Commission states that Saudi Arabia has not made sufficient efforts to prevent the financing of terrorism and organized crime. Being placed on the EU's money laundering blacklist does not impose sanctions but requires European banks to exercise stricter oversight over customers and institutions from these countries. Following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the consequences of the Yemen war, relations between the European Union and Saudi Arabia have been tense.