
Adel al-Jubeir Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia has given an interview to Euro News on 21 July 2016.
Following is part of Saudi foreign minister statements in this interview:
Iranian Regime:
“We had a militia, that’s radical, that’s allied with Iran and Hezbollah, taking over Yemen, and [was] in possession of ballistic missiles and an air force that became a direct threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. Somebody had to do something about it, so we stepped in.
“In terms of Iran, we said enough is enough: Thirty-five years of agression by Iran towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its allies is enough, we will not tolerate this. With regards to Syria, our objective is to support the moderate opposition and bring about a change in the system there.”
“We said that any deal that prevents Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, that has robust and intrusive inspection mechanisms, and that has provisions for restoring sanctions, should Iran violate the terms, is one we would welcome.”
“The concerns we had, and we still have, have to do with the funds, that Iran would have access to. What we see is continued Iranian engagement in hostile activities, in supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq and in trying to supply weapons to the Houthis [in Yemen]. So I think the jury is still out on whether there is a change in Iran’s behaviour or not, but we don’t really see any.”
“Saudi Arabia will do whatever it takes to protect our people and our country. In terms of how we do it, or by which means we do it, this is not something we would be announcing. Certainly not on television.”
Syria:
“At the end of the day, there will be a new Syria without Bashar al-Assad. It’s a question of timing: Will it be achieved through a political process that can bring it about faster and more smoothly? Or will it be done through a military process which will take longer and will cost more, in terms of death and destruction and in terms of blood and treasure?”
“We will support the moderate Syrian opposition militarily, as if there is no political process and we will support the political process as if there is no military process.”
“We have a group of countries that are providing military support to the moderate opposition, we agree on which groups should receive support and when and how and we have always been urging to provide them with more robust equipment, so they can take on Bachar al-Assad.”
“We are prepared to send Special Forces into Syria as part of the international coalition to fight Daesh.”
Source: Euro News, 21 July 2016