“We believe that Tehran and Riyadh have the necessary potential to help countries exposed to the threat of terrorism in the region,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, said Tuesday, IRNA reported.
The Iranian diplomat noted that Iran has taken steps to initiate consultations with Saudi Arabia as an important country, adding that the Islamic Republic is “optimistic” about the future of talks with the Persian Gulf kingdom.
Terrorism in Mideast
Amir-Abdollahian also described terrorism as the main threat facing the Middle East region.
He said certain foreign states seek to fuel regional tensions by causing tribal, ethnic and religious rifts, adding that “the existence of weak or ineffective countries" has exacerbated terrorism and extremism in the region.
He said terrorist Takfiri groups, which are linked to certain foreign intelligence services, have turned into a tool in the hands of certain countries, thus posing a challenge to the Middle East’s peace, stability and security.
Amir-Abdollahian also reaffirmed Iran’s support for comprehensive talks as a key solution to the tensions in Egypt, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen.
The Iranian official called on foreign powers to refrain from interfering in regional issues, also urging countries in the region to respect their people’s demands.
Amir-Abdollahian further pointed out that Iran supports countries in their campaign against terrorism.
Bahrain’s developments
The Iranian deputy foreign minister warned against the threat of extremism in regional countries including Bahrain.
He said the Bahraini regime’s resorting to violence against protesters has further increased insecurity in the tiny monarchy, stressing that instability in Bahrain would benefit neither the Arab country nor the entire region.
Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for political reforms.
Manama’s heavy-handed crackdown on protesters turned people's demands for reforms into calls for the downfall of the regime.
Scores of people have been killed ever since and hundreds of others injured in the regime’s ongoing crackdown on peaceful anti-government rallies. The Bahraini regime has also detained many protesters.
