Foreign Ministry slams Saudi FM’s arrogant, despicable rhetoric

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham on Monday lashed out at the recent comments of the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir about regional developments calling them ‘despicable’, ‘arrogant’ and void of diplomatic norms.

‘The Saudi foreign minister whose country has taken a military, security, and excessive approach and for more than seven months has targetted its Muslim neighboring country of Yemen by constant bombardments, lacks the competency to speak about Iran’s regional role,’ she said in a statement, as reported by IRNA.

In response to al-Jubeir’s allegations during a joint press conference with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier, Afkham added, ‘While the global community though appreciating Iran’s constructive and stabilizing role has been calling for Iran’s further participation and role, unfortunately, the only country that is still looking at the regional developments with the win-lose approach and is insisting on removal of others is the Saudi Arabia.’

‘But its non-constructive and destructive approach does not lead to anywhere.’

It was hoped, she added, that following successful nuclear negotiations and global appreciation of the constructive and comprehensive way of dialog for peaceful settlement of regional problems, certain illogical and monopolistic behavior on the part of Iran’s southern neighbor will be put aside.

‘However, it unfortunately appears that some have problems in understanding the regional conditions and constructive processes and pursue the impossible dream of changing the whole world and its peoples to satisfy themselves.’

Also reacting to the Saudi official’s comments on the political future of Syria, the spokeswoman said, ‘Using such arrogant, despicable, and out of diplomatic norms about the fate of other nations is an indication of diplomatic stagnation.’

‘Unfortunately, the same outlook has resulted in the entanglement of some countries and peoples of the region including Syria and Yemen in a pre-designed war and extremism,’ she said.

M. Wassouf