S. Arabia Seeking to Fan Flames of Shiite-Sunni Conflict: Iran’s Rouhani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday lashed out at the Saudi Arabian regime’s policies and measures that cause further rifts between Shiites and Sunnis.
“Unfortunately, the government of Saudi Arabia, which is the government of an Islamic country, has long been trying to raise and exacerbate conflicts between Shiite and Sunni Muslims,” Rouhani said in a cabinet meeting in Tehran.
These measures are also aimed at spreading Iranophobia in the world’s public opinion, the Iranian president added.
He went on to say that Riyadh’s financial support and arm supplies for regional terrorism as well as their bombardment of innocent people in Yemen and impeding the victories of Iraqi and Syrian governments against terrorists in recent years have all been aimed at creating discord between Shiites and Sunnis and causing further tensions in the region.
Rouhani pointed to Saudi Arabia’s recent decision to cut off its ties with Iran and encouraging other regional countries to do the same, and described them as moves to disrupt the process of peace, stability, and security in the region.
The trend of Saudi Arabia’s regional policies has been one on the path of tyranny, aggression, spread of terrorism, and spoiling regional stability and security, he added.
The Iranian chief executive urged the Saudi government to compensate for its past mistakes and stop its wrong and futile policies, adding, “Stability, security, real fight against terrorism, friendship and brotherhood with all regional countries are the main demands of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, among dozens of others. The execution ignited widespread international condemnation, from both political and religious figures.
On Sunday, furious demonstrators in the Iranian cities of Tehran and Mashhad stormed Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic buildings in protest at the Al Saud’s execution of Sheikh Nimr.
Although Iranian officials criticized the embassy attack and police arrested several individuals involved, Saudi Arabia on Sunday severed diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic.