*RIYADH: *Saudi Arabia’s King Salman urged arch-rival Iran on Wednesday toabandon an expansionist ideology that has “harmed” its own people,following violent street protests in the Islamic republic.
A wave of demonstrations erupted in the sanctions-hit country on Fridayafter an announcement that petrol prices would be raised by as much as 200percent with immediate effect.
“We hope the Iranian regime choses the side of wisdom and realises there isno way to overcome the international position that rejects its practises,without abandoning its expansionist and destructive thinking that hasharmed its own people,” the king told the consultative Shura Council.
The region’s leading Shia and Sunni powers have no diplomatic ties and areat odds over a range of issues, including the wars in Syria and Yemen.
“The kingdom has suffered from the policies and practices of the Iranianregime and its proxies,” King Salman said, quoted by the foreign ministry,reiterating that Riyadh does not seek war but is “ready to defend itspeople”.
Saudi leaders regularly accuse Iran of stirring conflicts by supportingShia movements in the region.
In Yemen, the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have been fighting the government— backed by a Saudi-led military coalition — for more than four years.
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Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the conflict in 2015, shortlyafter the Houthis took over the capital Sanaa.
Tensions have soared between Riyadh and Tehran after a recent string ofassaults on oil tankers and installations in the Gulf.
In the latest attack on September 14, drone strikes targeted two Saudi oilfacilities, temporarily knocking out half of the kingdom’s oil production.
The attacks were claimed by the Houthi, but Washington and Riyadh said Iranwas responsible, and that the strikes were carried out with advancedmissiles and drones. -APP/AFP
