TEHRAN: Saudi Arabia is the ideological birthplace of terror as well as afinancial and logistical supporter of terrorism in the region, Iran hassaid in a scathing criticism of the kingdom.
“As the base and birthplace of the ideologies of Takifiri terrorist groups,Saudi Arabia has, for years, been pursuing a blame-game policy and seekingto distort realities …not to be held accountable for its crimes,” Iran’sMinistry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said in astatement on Thursday.
Khatibzadeh’s comments come a day after Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz’sUNGA statement on Iran exploiting a 2015 nuclear deal.
The Saudi king told the 193 UN members in a pre-recorded video statement atthe virtual meeting that Iran exploited the nuclear deal “to intensify itsexpansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism.”
Khatibzadeh dismissed King Salman’s anti-Iran charges as unfounded.
“Saudi Arabia has become delirious due to back-to-back defeats it hassuffered both on the ground and on the political front in Yemen, and Riyadhwants to shirk responsibility for the war crimes it has committed againstYemeni women and children,” the spokesman said.
‘Worst deal ever’
The United States, a strong ally of Saudi Arabia, quit the Iran nuclearpact in 2018 with President Donald Trump calling it the “worst deal ever.”
Washington has since imposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran and assertsthat all countries should reinstate UN sanctions to try to push the nationto negotiate a new deal.
All the remaining parties to the nuclear deal, including longtime USallies, and 13 of the 15 UN Security Council members say the US claim on UNsanctions is void.
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Diplomats say few countries are likely to reimpose the measures.
French President Emmanuel Macron told the world body on Tuesday thatWashington’s sanctions campaign against Iran had failed.
‘Baseless allegations’
Iran’s UN mission spokesman Alireza Miryousefi rejected Saudi King’saccusations as “baseless allegations”.
“The unconstructive and unwarranted statement by the Saudi leader onlyemboldens certain powers who are intent in sowing discord among regionalcountries with the aim of creating permanent division and selling moredeadly weapons to the region,” he said in an apparent swipe at the UnitedStates.
Khatibzadeh reiterated Miryousefi’s points, dismissing the “anti-Irancharges as unfounded”.
Khatibzadeh’s statement also said, “the Saudi regime” has become “ahumiliated creature among Arab countries” due to its alignment with the USto normalise ties with Israel.
Courtesy: (TRTWorld)
