Saudi FM seeks pressure on Iran and Hezbollah

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has called for new international sanctions to be imposed on Iran for "its support for terorrism", as an escalating war of words between Tehran and Riyadh sends ripples across the region.


Adel al-Jubeir said "Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism" in an interview with US television network CNBC that aired on Thursday.

He condemned Iran for its ballistic missile programme and its support for Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah.

"We would like to see sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism and sanctions on Iran for violating the ballistic missile resolutions of the United Nations," Jubeir said.

Asked whether Saudi Arabia was headed for a direct confrontation with Iran, he responded: "We hope not."

The comments come as Saudi Arabia faces accusations that it forced Saad Hariri, Lebanon's prime minister, to resign as a way to put pressure on Hezbollah and the group's Iranian backers.
 [aljazeera.com]
  9/11/17
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