Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.3
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran is ready to launch the military exercises with Arab states of Gulf.
A senior Iranian parliamentarian told Lebanese Aljoumhouria newspaper Feb. 3 that some countries like the U.S., UK, etc. are attempting to spread "Iranophobia" among Arab states, with aim to pave the way for exporting their weapons to these countries.
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Chairman of Iran Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said that Iran has had several military exercises with some of Gulf States and is ready to have military maneuvers with them in future as well.
"Unfortunately, the Arab states of Persian Gulf confide mostly the western countries," he said.
Speaking of Iran, Saudia Arabi's relations Boroujerdi said some Iranian top officials including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have traveled to Riyadh, and Iran initiatively offered its willingness towards friendship, but has not heard a reciprocal voice from Saudi officials.
"The ball is in Saudi's court", he said.
Boriujerdi's statement about Tehran- Riyadh relations came while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strongly condemned on Feb.2 the Iranian top cleric figure's statement on Friday when
a prominent Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati congratulated Muslims over the death of Saudi king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
"We should express condolences to the Israelis and Americans and congratulation to Muslims and those who really care about Islam and Shia," Jannati said on Jan. 30 during his Friday sermon in Tehran, Iran's Mehr news agency reported.
Some of the Iranian media affiliated with conservatives have expressed joy over the death of Abdullah.
King Abdullah died on Jan. 23 at about the age of 90. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif participated in the memorial ceremony of the deceased Saudi king. The country's President Hassan Rouhani also extended his condolences to the Saudi government and people.
Iran and Saudi Arabia, the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers hold different views over several regional issues such as the situations in Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain.
Iran is a close ally of the Syrian government and has always shown its support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, while Riyadh supports Sunni rebels trying to topple him.
Edited by CN