Saudi FM's comments contradict mutual diplomatic talks with Iran

Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 14

By Umid Niayesh - Trend:

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian has criticized the recent remarks made by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, the Islamic Republic's official IRNA news agency reported Oct. 14.

Amir Abdollahian said that the FM's comments do not correspond to the atmosphere of diplomatic negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi FM accused Iran of being a part of problems in regional conflicts.

Iran must withdraw its "occupying" forces from Syria to help resolve that country's conflict, al-Faisal said Oct. 13.

"In many conflicts, Iran is part of the problem, not the solution," he said, adding that the Islamic Republic has forces in Syria "fighting Syrians."

Amir Abdollahian, responding to the comments, said that Iran helps Syrian and Iraqi governments in fighting terrorism, which is within the framework of international laws.

He also said that Saudi Arabia's military presence in Bahrain prevents achieving a political solution and a "national dialogue" between the government and opposition in the country.

Amir Abdollahian also recommended Saudi officials to "watch out for plots hatched by region's enemies."

Iran and Saudi Arabia have their differences 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.

The Syrian opposition claim that Iranian military forces are fighting against them, while Iran dismisses the claims, saying that the country only has advisors in Syria to transfer its military experience to the Syrian army.