Newsletters
Saudi Arabia has not ruled out military action in response to repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after hosting a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Riyadh, Prince Faisal accused Iran of attempting to pressure its neighbors through attacks.
“The kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and on the contrary, this pressure will backfire... and certainly, as we have stated quite clearly, we have reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary,” he said.
“Neither Saudi Arabia nor the Gulf states would accept... blackmail, and escalation will be met with escalation,” he added.
Saudi Arabia reported additional Iranian attacks on Wednesday, as foreign ministers from around a dozen Arab and Islamic countries gathered in Riyadh to discuss the fallout from the ongoing Middle East war.
AFP journalists reported hearing several strong blasts in the Saudi capital, while the Defense Ministry said ballistic missiles were intercepted.
“The targeting of Riyadh while several diplomats are meeting... I think that's the clearest signal of how Iran feels about diplomacy,” Prince Faisal said.
“It doesn't believe in talking to its neighbors."
1 min read
The Saudi foreign minister condemned what he described as repeated “targeting of civilian sites” across the Gulf, rejecting Iran’s claim that it was targeting U.S. interests in the region as “weak.”
A joint statement issued after the Riyadh meeting condemned “the deliberate use of ballistic missiles and drones targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential facilities, and diplomatic missions.”
The ministers “affirmed that such attacks cannot be justified under any circumstances and reiterated the right of states to defend themselves,” the statement said.
They also called on Iran to “immediately cease its attacks” and de-escalate tensions.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
