Iran Says It Walks Out of Syria Talks if “Unproductive”

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian today criticized what he called Saudi Arabia’s “unconstructive role” in recent Syria talks in Vienna, threatening to walk out of the talks should the next meeting be “unproductive.”

“Some countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, played negative and nonconstructive roles (in the recent meeting), as they could not provide a logic for their positions vis-à-vis Syria’s conflict,” Abdollahian said. “If the negotiations will be ‘a show’ and rights of the Syrian people are ignored, Iran will pull out of the talks.” (Xinuha, 2 November)

Following Syria talks on Friday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the talks should entail a decision on a date and means for the departure of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Syria, including Iran. 

A day later, Jubeir used a high-profile regional security conference in Bahrain to accuse Iran of attempting to smuggle weapons to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as well as meddling in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, Reuters reported.

File photo: Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (IRNA)

Saudi FM: Iran’s ‘Aggressive’ Moves on U.S.-GCC Summit Agenda

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Thursday’s summit between GGC leaders and President Obama will focus on Iran’s “aggressive” moves in the region, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

“We see Iranian support for terrorist organizations and facilitating the work of terrorist organizations, so the challenge will be in how to coordinate U.S.-Gulf efforts in order to collectively face these aggressive moves on the part of Iran,” al-Jubeir said on Monday. (SPA/Reuters, 12 May)

File photo: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir (Independent)