This claim is further evidence of the benefit that ISIS reaps from the escalating conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
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Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people in one day, including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
In a rare act of openness, London’s Saudi Embassy threw open its doors to a select group of journalists for a lengthy briefing with a foreign minister eager to address concerns about his country’s new more interventionist regional policy. The two leaders will also discuss some important subjects related to the bilateral ties of the two brotherly and neighbouring countries.
Conservative MP Matthew Offord recently sent a written question to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond asking why the government did not include Saudi Arabia in its report “Strategy for the Abolition of the Death Penalty 2010-2015”.
The Middle East, however, is fraught with risk for China, a country that has little experience navigating the religious and political tensions that frequently afflict the region.
The United States has largely abandoned its traditional role as the “policeman” of the Middle East. The Saudis on the other hand, in large measure due to what they perceive as the security vacuum left by the United States, have chose to not only assume responsibility for defending their own national security interests, but view themselves as uniquely positioned to fill this leadership vacuum. “So stability in the Middle East is what China would most like to see”. He said Iran should “stop interfering in (the) internal affairs” of its neighbors. Yet last week’s naval incident contrasted to 2007 when Iran captured British sailors in similar circumstances, but accused of them of spying and held them for two weeks. And, he said Saudi Arabia opposes the creation of tension between the groups.
On Tuesday Sharif will meet with Iran s President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran.
“It should strengthen our resolve to work effectively together to combat the scourge of terrorism”, al-Jubeir said. Al-Nimr had publicly criticized the Saudi royal family.
“UK military personnel are not directly involved in Saudi-led Coalition operations”, a spokeswoman said. He said Iran can reduce tensions with its neighbors.
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“ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan also suggested against interfering in the affairs of the two countries and called for settling the issues through dialogue and meaningful mediation”, he added.
