Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister launched a stinging attack on Iran on Thursday, accusing it of supporting terrorists and calling for tougher sanctions.
Adel Al Jubeir also demanded more ‘robust’ action against Tehran over its weapons programme and hailed President Trump’s decision to tear up the nuclear deal, describing it as ‘weak’.
Mr Jubeir also reiterated claims that Iran helped Hezbollah build and launch a missile at Saudi Arabia from Yemen earlier this week, which he continued to describe as ‘an act of war’.
Adel Al Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, continued the country’s war of word with Iran on Thursday by calling for more sanctions on the country
Mr Jubeir accused Tehran of supporting terrorism and beaching missile treaties by helping Hezbollah launch a missile at Saudi from Yemen earlier this week
But quizzed by CNBC’s Hadley Gamble over whether Saudi would declare war on Iran, he responded ‘we hope not’.
He added: ‘We would like to see sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism and sanctions on Iran for violating the ballistic missile resolutions of the United Nations.’
On the nuclear treaty, he said Mr Trump effectively tearing up the agreement was a positive step, because he ‘fixed something that needed to be fixed’.
He said provisions in the treaty that would have seen it expire in 12 years would have given Iran the capacity to produce a nuclear bomb within weeks.
Mr Jubeir added that provisions around the inspection of potential nuclear sites need to be ‘tightened’, and called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to take a more ‘robust’ stance against the Ayatollah.
‘When you combine those three: fixing the nuclear agreement and holding Iran accountable for its support of terrorism and for its ballistic missile program, then I think we have an effective way of dealing with Iran,’ he said.
His comments come amid shifting regional politics as new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attempts to recast Saudi Arabia’s presence on the world stage.
Key to his vision is ridding the country of extremist Islam, which includes taking a tougher line with Iran.
It comes as new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attempts to recast Saudi’s presence on the global stage, including taking a tougher stance with Iran
Hezbollah, effectively a military agent of Iran, and Houthi rebels in Yemen, have also fallen in the prince’s crosshairs.
Earlier on Thursday Saudi ordered all of its citizens to leave Yemen after Iran accused it of orchestrating violence in the country and supporting ISIS.
A Saudi-led coalition has been waging war against Iranian-backed rebels in the country for months, resulting in widespread poverty and a cholera outbreak.
The UN has warned that millions of people could starve to death if Saudi does not lift its blockade of the country and allow aid to flow in.
Meanwhile it was revealed that former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who was forced to resign while on a trip to Saudi this week, is being held in the country.
Officials in Lebanon are now reportedly planning to work with foreign states to secure the politician’s return.
Prince Salman’s reforms are not just limited to foreign states, as his eye has turned inward to officials in his own country.
Reports have emerged that Saudi billionaires are racing to get their assets out of the kingdom before officials seize $800 billion of funds.
It comes after the arrest of 200 people, including members of the ruling royal family.
The arrests are ostensibly part of an anti-corruption probe the prince is spearheading, but in reality serve to shore up his grip on power which has traditionally been shared between a cadre of royals.