Asked whether or not the coalition will act against the Houthi tribes in Yemen against which Saudi Arabia and its allies are fighting for the last over nine months, Leghari referred to the Adviser ‘s briefing to the panel that the coalition is not against any country.
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Iran has led military efforts along with the Iraqi army and volunteers in the fight against IS in Iraq.
The Saudis have problems at home, too.
The regime is also a key regional power broker, vital to western governments’ geo-political interests in the Middle East. Past year the world’s largest oil exporter used $100bn of assets to plug its budget deficit.
And the family faces a succession crisis; 80-year-old King Salman, who ascended to the throne last year, is described privately by diplomats as almost senile. Most executions in the country are carried out by beheading with a sword. Nimr’s crime was not terrorism, but sedition. This led several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, to cut or downgrade diplomatic ties with Iran.
His death has stirred tension in the east of Saudi Arabia, where the majority of its Shiite population of roughly 20 million is situated. That’s not what happened this time.
USA officials didn’t hide their exasperation at the Saudis – and Saudi officials didn’t hide their unhappiness with the Americans.
US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in London January 14, 2016.
Falling oil prices (Brent oil briefly sank below $30 for the first time since 2004 on Wednesday) and political climate surely contribute to existing tensions, but Saudi Arabia’s belligerence, according to Mohseni, indicates that the oil kingdom is trying to deal with what Riyadh perceives as recent strategic setbacks.
Most of the questions were related to the recent visits of Saudi foreign and defence ministers. “It’s been an impossible relationship in value terms from the beginning”.
It recently sent a diplomatic envoy, Zhang Ming, to the two countries in an apparent attempt to mediate.
The singular approach by Washington with regard to the Iranian nuclear agreement, coincide with comments by President Obama in 2014 stating, “They have a path to break through that isolation and they should seize it. Because if they do, there’s incredible talent and resources and sophistication … inside of Iran, and it would be a very successful regional power that was also abiding by global norms and worldwide rules, and that would be good for everybody”.
Saud Arabia is the world’s biggest buyer of British weapons. Moreover, Tehran could improve relations with the West, particularly the United States, – a nightmare scenario for the Saudis. But there are simple things they would like to see done that help to prevent that.
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“An emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers has been summoned in Jeddah where Pakistan would present important proposals to reduce Iran-Saudi tensions”.
