Zarif Warns of Driving the Region 'Towards a Very Dangerous Direction'

Simultaneously with the attacks of several Friday prayer leaders against Saudi Arabia, Iran's Foreign Minister accused the officials of this country of 'driving the region towards a very bad situation.' According to ISNA news agency, Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday, November 10, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, that the region has 'witnessed positive developments,' including 'continuous victories against ISIS' and 'the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity.' The Iranian Foreign Minister also stated that the 'dangerous, irrational, and warlike policies' of some countries 'could drive our region towards a very dangerous situation.' He added, 'There is a need for necessary international cooperation in this regard and messages should be sent to some young leaders in our region who are driving the region towards a very bad situation without being familiar with the realities of the region.' Zarif's remarks come as verbal confrontations between Iranian and Saudi officials have intensified again following a missile attack on Riyadh. His comments about 'some young leaders in our region' may refer to Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who has adopted a hardline political stance against Iran's influence in the region as Minister of Defense. Meanwhile, several Friday prayer leaders in Iran, including those from Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj, Rasht, and Bandar Abbas, have also severely attacked Saudi Arabia. Ahmad Khatami, the Friday prayer leader of Tehran, referred to Mohammed bin Salman as an 'immature young man' and, referring to the statements of Saudi officials against Iran and Hezbollah, said, 'Bigger than you, like Saddam, confronted this nation and faced a dark day, you are nothing.' Khatami added, 'Stop these childish remarks; if you continue with these words and try to take action, you will receive a slap that you won't be able to get up from.' A day before these Iranian officials' remarks, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, called for closer monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the Vienna nuclear agreement and sanctions against Iran due to its missile program and 'support for terrorism.' The Saudi Foreign Minister also stated on Tuesday, November 6, that the recent missile attack on Riyadh International Airport 'is considered a declaration of war by Iran, and we will respond appropriately at the right time.' The missile attack on the Saudi capital occurred on Saturday, November 4, which was intercepted by Saudi defense forces in the sky over Riyadh Airport. The Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for this attack, and Iranian officials denied any involvement. However, Mohammed bin Salman insisted on his country's position, accusing Iran of 'direct military aggression' through the Houthi rebels in Yemen. In contrast, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused Saudi officials on Wednesday, November 8, of wanting to 'create problems for other countries due to their internal issues.' Rouhani's remarks may refer to the situation of the Shia minority in Saudi Arabia and the recent arrests of dozens of Saudi officials. The Iranian embassy in London responded to the British Deputy Foreign Minister's remarks. Despite Iranian officials' denials, General Jeffrey Harrigian, who oversees the U.S. Air Force Command in Qatar, stated on Friday that the ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards the Saudi capital was Iranian and 'Iranian signs' were observed on its body. Two days before these remarks, the White House had accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of supplying 'advanced weapons' to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, including the ballistic missile that was fired from Yemen towards the Saudi capital last week. Meanwhile, Alistair Burt, the British Deputy Foreign Minister for the Middle East, expressed serious concern on Thursday over reports of Iran's missile support for the missile attack on Riyadh and called for UN inspectors to look into the matter. In response, the Iranian embassy in London issued a statement on Friday, without denying the Islamic Republic's involvement in the missile attack, stating that 'the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, using weapons and equipment provided by some Western countries, including Britain, has caused widespread slaughter of innocent people and created famine, cholera, and other infectious diseases.' The statement called on Britain and other supporters of Saudi Arabia to 'help establish a ceasefire in this country by stopping arms supplies' to Saudi Arabia. Tehran accuses Saudi Arabia of interfering in Yemen's affairs, but Riyadh denies this accusation, stating that the regional coalition entered the war against the Shia Houthi group at the request of Yemen's legitimate government. Saudi Arabia, in turn, accuses Tehran of interfering in Yemen's affairs, an accusation that Iran also denies.