Saudi FM says Iran 'still hostile' to neighbours

Saudi FM says Iran 'still hostile' to neighbours
Adel al-Jubeir tells EU foreign policy chief that he rejects's Iran's words and actions and accused Tehran of being hostile to its neighbours, including Bahrain.
1 min read
28 July, 2015
Al-Jubeir says Iran is showing hostility towards neighbours [AFP/Getty Images]
Saudi Arabia's top diplomat has told visiting EU foreign policy chief that Iran is still showing "hostility" toward countries in the region, following a landmark deal on curbing Tehran's nuclear program earlier this month.

Adel al-Jubeir spoke Monday after talks with EU's Federica Mogherini who was in the kingdom to assuage its concerns over the nuclear deal she helped broker.

Al-Jubeir says Saudi Arabia rejects Iran's words and actions - a veiled reference to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's statement that the deal won't sway his country's support for the Lebanese Hizballah group, Syria's government and Shias in Bahrain and Yemen.

Al-Jubeir also accused Iran of being hostile towards Saudi Arabia's ally, Bahrain, who had recalled its ambassador to Tehran for consultations. Bahrain said on Saturday that it had thwarted an attempt to smuggle arms by Bahrainis with ties to Iran.

Mogherini, who heads to Tehran on Tuesday, is also pushing for a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, where Saudi-led airstrikes are targeting the Iran-backed Shia rebels.