AFP, Cairo, 13 Sept 2011 – The Arab League on Tuesday accused Iran of making ‘provocative statements’ targeting Sunni-ruled Gulf nations, in an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The 22-member bloc said it was ‘deeply concerned by the provocative statements issued by Iranian officials and the Iranian media about a number of Gulf nations which are considered a breach of good neighborly relations.’
The statement — issued as the Arab League held a regular, bi-annual meeting at its Cairo headquarters — did not elaborate on the nature of the Iranian statements.
But the foreign ministers of the Sunni-ruled Arab countries said Shiite Iran should stop issuing such statements and halt ‘media campaigns which do not help improve ties between the two sides and achieve stability in the region.’
Iran’s ties with the Gulf monarchies must be based on ‘good neighborly relations, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs,’ the statement said.
‘Differences must be solved through peaceful means, not force or threats,’ it added.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz said in comments published at the end of August that terrorism remains a threat for the oil-rich Gulf kingdom and accused Iran of targeting it.
‘We will continue to be a target for terrorists, who will continue attempting to attack us, supported by other parties,’ Al-Eqtissadiya newspaper quoted Prince Nayef as saying on August 29.
‘Evil surrounds us from all sides,’ he said, citing ‘Iran and its targeting of the kingdom.’ He did not elaborate.
But later an Iranian foreign ministry official insisted ‘the security of Saudi Arabia and Iran are linked.’
‘Iran has always wanted the stability, peace and progress of Saudi Arabia,’ Fars news agency quoted the unidentified official as saying on August 31.
Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia rose sharply in March when Saudi troops intervened in Bahrain to help the Gulf kingdom’s Sunni ruling family suppress month-long protests led by its Shiite majority community, triggering angry protests from Tehran.