Zarif: We Do Not See 'Positive Behavior' from Saudi Officials

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated that Tehran does not see 'positive behavior' from Saudi officials and that 'they continue to fuel tensions in the region with their policies and positions.' In an interview with ISNA published on Sunday, March 5, he criticized Saudi officials for not using the current conditions for dialogue and interaction, adding that some neighboring countries 'have illusions and think that it is possible to revive past influence and dominance in the region, while in the new era, the region and the international space do not tolerate dominance, and those who seek to revive past hegemony are mistaken.' He mentioned that 'some neighboring countries are deluded' and added, 'I believe our neighbors will soon realize that such policies and pressures against Tehran will yield no results and that the best way is to engage in dialogue with Iran.' Zarif's remarks come as the Bahraini government claims to have arrested 25 individuals in connection with what it calls 'membership in an Iran-backed terrorist group.' Regarding his optimism, the Iranian Foreign Minister stated that 'the common threat of extremism and terrorism in the region will increasingly affect those who have played a role in creating and developing these terrorist groups and have provided them with financial, political, and military support.' These statements were made amid accusations from several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, that Iran interferes in the affairs of Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. In turn, Tehran accuses Riyadh of meddling in the internal affairs of these countries. Both countries have denied each other's accusations in this regard. Tehran is also accused by some regional and global countries of supporting terrorist groups in the region. However, Iranian officials claim they support 'liberation movements.' Zarif stated, 'Regional countries will come to the conclusion that the policy of Iranophobia will not be effective and they will be forced to choose the path of cooperation and interaction.' Recently, U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary James Mattis, have labeled Iran as the world's foremost supporter of terrorism. The U.S. State Department, during Barack Obama's presidency, repeatedly identified Iran as the leading state sponsor of 'terrorism' globally. The use of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to 'implement the goals of the Islamic Republic in foreign policy,' support for the Assad regime, and equipping Hezbollah in Lebanon were among the reasons the U.S. State Department placed Iran at the top of its list of state sponsors of terrorism. According to ISNA, Zarif mentioned that Iranian officials do not feel there is a 'need for mediation' between Iran and Saudi Arabia and added, 'Of course, we have not taken a negative stance towards countries that have expressed a desire to play a positive role in establishing communication between Iran and Saudi Arabia; we have not rejected any of them and have reacted positively because Iran does not need tensions.' He added that 'the problem is that Saudi Arabia feels it needs to create tensions and revive the atmosphere against Iran to advance its policies in the region' and urged that country to 'abandon this delusional policy.' In part of his remarks, the Iranian Foreign Minister accused Saudi Arabia of causing 'insecurity, terrorism, and strengthening terrorist groups' by adopting 'tension-creating policies' in the region and attacking Yemen. Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran last winter following attacks on its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, which occurred after the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia also accuses Iran of interfering in its internal affairs and the region. However, Tehran denies this accusation and accuses Riyadh of meddling in its internal affairs. In this context, Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, stated on February 19 that 'armed groups opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the support of trans-regional organizations and some countries in the Persian Gulf, have once again 'entered a military phase.' These accusations come at a time when Riyadh denies interfering in Iran's internal affairs.