In the weekly cabinet session held on Wednesday, Rouhani said, “The new US administration seems to have a special skill in looting, and it was successful in doing so in some countries of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia in particular.”
“Trump’s administration has managed to loot their assets and resources and will give them weapons in return in order to fan the flames of war in the region,” he went on to say, a Farsi report by the president’s website said.
They have been meddling in the internal affairs of the regional states with the aim of looting the oil and gas of the Middle East on the one hand and selling their weapons to the regional states on the other hand, he added.
The Iranian president stressed that the US and Israel are seeking to fan the flames of war in the Middle East and added Washington has a dark record in exploiting the natural resources of the region particularly the oil of Saudi Arabia.
Rouhani expressed hope that the regional rulers realize the westerners’ plots and tread the path of regional unity.
He once again called for unity among the regional states and added it is no secret that the US and the Zionist regime are hatching plots against the region.
Rouhani also said he was surprised by some measures adopted by certain regional states towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and added the violent policies of Saudi Arabia against regional nations are of no use. He further called on the international community to break their silence towards these policies.
“Iran has always been seeking to establish good-faith relations with the regional states and throughout history, the people of Iran and Saudi Arabia have had friendly and brotherly relations with each other,” he said.
Yemen’s Missile Attack Response to Saudi Airstrikes
President Rouhani then asked how on the earth Saudi Arabia can justify its war on the impoverished nation of Yemen and its relentless bombardments of the innocent people.
“They say the Yemeni are not allowed to use their own weapons against Saudi Arabia. If you just stop your airstrikes, you will find that the Yemenis will stop their counterattacks. You have put the Yemenis under a suffocating siege and don’t allow any humanitarian aid to the country. Is it acceptable by reason and Islam?” he noted.
Rouhani then addressed the Saudi Arabian rulers and said “why do you hold animosity towards the people of Iraq and Syria? Why do you back ISIS militants and sow discord among the regional nations? Why do you interfere in the internal affairs of Lebanon? It is unprecedented in the history of the region that a country pressurizes the prime minister of another country to resign.”
He was referring to the abrupt resignation of Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Sa’ad Hariri, which was announced while he was in Saudi Arabia.
He also urged the Saudi officials to deal with their internal problems without involving others in them.
“You know well how capable and strong the Islamic Republic of Iran is. No major power has ever managed to inflict any blow on Iran. Even the US with all its power couldn’t press ahead with its project for Iran,” he said.
The Iranian president stressed that Iran is seeking to establish peace and stability in the region and added, “Unlike what you think, the Islamic Republic is not your enemy. We are interested in the progress of the regional states. This is the US and Israel which are against your progress.”
Airstrikes against Yemen Must Be Stopped
Elsewhere in his statements, Rouhani said Iran wants a stable region. “We don’t want to see any change in the regional borders. Regional nations, instead of foreign powers, should decide about their own future. We want airstrikes against regional states to be stopped.”
President Rouhani also said the Islamic Republic of Iran is unduly accused of meddling in Iraq and Syria while the country has been fighting against terrorism with the aim of helping the war-torn countries to restore peace and stability.
He also referred to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and said the world powers are seeking to find a legal way to violate the nuclear treaty. “They are trying to create divisions between the regional nations because they feel isolated by the world’s public opinion over JCPOA.”
Iran’s president also expressed hope that Saudi Arabia would stop sowing discord among regional states and stressed Iran does not distinguish between Shiite and Sunni nations and view them all as brothers.
He also thanked the great nation of Iran for their vigilance against regional plots and said the nation is determined to take steps in the direction of progress and development.
Arba’een Mass Pilgrimage, Strong Message to Regional Plotters
He also noted that Arba’een pilgrimage, the world’s largest religious gathering, is a strong message to the regional plotters and their western allies which are seeking to sow discord among the regional nations.
President Rouhani said Arba’een has attracted the world’s attentions over the past years and is of significant political importance.
He finally thanked the Iraqi government and nation for their warm hospitality.
