Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said that in reaction to the remarks made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo against Iran’s regional policies in a Sat. joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir in Riyadh.
“What the US secretary of state calls cooperation with Riyadh is in fact aimed at destabilization and further escalation of conflicts, arms race and extremism due to adventurism of some inexperienced and warmongering politicians of Saudi Arabia,” Ghasemi said.
He went on to add, “this cooperation has so far led to adverse consequences for the Middle East, such as deteriorating crises, insecurity and instability, as well as the continuation of violence, enmity and lack of trust among regional countries.”
Ghasemi noted that the American and Saudi foreign ministers only needed to take a look at the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen and the growth of extremism and terrorism in the region to get a true sense of the result of their so-called cooperation.
The Iranian diplomat went on to dismiss as “repetitive and unfounded” Pompeo’s remarks about Iran’s presence and role in some regional countries, adding “the advisory role of Iran in the two neighboring countries is in accordance with the request of the legitimate governments of those countries and in line with fighting terrorism in the region.”
“Iran will continue its support as long as those countries need help in combating terrorism,” he stressed.
Ghasemi also addressed the claim on Iran’s intervention in Yemen, saying “the claim aims to deviate the global public opinion from the crimes committed daily by Saudi Arabia in the course of their invasion of Yemen.”
“This is merely a crude and worthless claim for Saudi Arabia to continue its warmongering and aggression against Yemen, and for foreign powers to continue their destructive and destabilizing presence in the region,” he added.
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