Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif said Saudi Arabia is “panicking” over the potential for reduced tensions between
Tehran and the West. He said that he is happy for the families of Americans previously imprisoned in Iran, and that the U.S. is “addicted” to sanctions.
He said,”We do not have a fight to pick with Saudi Arabia. We believe that Iran and Saudi Arabia can be two important
players who can accommodate each other, who can complement each other, in the region.” Zarif said
“Unfortunately, the Saudis have had the illusion that backed by their Western allies, they could push Iran out of the
equation in the region.”
He also added that the tension between Saudi Arabia and Western nations, and
Iran, has provided a “smoke screen” which made Saudi Arabia to “export this Wahhabi ideology of extremism.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir that
“We don’t have confidence in Iran,” he said. “We have confidence in the United States.”
The tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been on the rise recently after the
Saudi Arabia executed 47 people , including a prominent Shiite cleric.
Zarif said, “We don’t expect, or we’re not interested even, in pushing Saudi Arabia out of this region, because Saudi Arabia is an important player in this region.”
“We were always in the community of nations. Now their allies have recognized that Iran is a serious partner.”