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Iran should work to publicize Saudi sponsorship of terror: Analyst

Tuesday, 19 January 2016 7:51 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 19 January 2016 7:52 AM ]

US President Barack Obama (R) poses for photographs along with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, November 15, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Press TV has conducted an interview with Ali al-Ahmed, a political analyst, about recent remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif about the real sources of problems in the Middle East.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Now looking at the comments made by Mohammad Javad Zarif specifically where he’s saying that the problems in the Middle East region are a result of the wrong policies of the US and Saudi Arabia, do you agree with that?

Ahmed: Absolutely I do. Most of the problems in the Middle East has been as the result of the Saudi monarchy and the unconditional support by the United States and other Western government to the Saudi monarchy.

The Saudi monarchy has been the source of most of the wars in the Middle East, most of the terrorist organizations and funding. And it’s time for the American administration, for the Obama administration specifically, to start something like what I call the “terror deal,” … the Saudis will be forced to abandon their policies of supporting terrorism, yet the Iranians have the responsibility now, they have suffered at the hands of the Saudis for over three decades and I think they can play a role in making sure this happens.

Press TV: Can you expand a bit more on that, Mr. al-Ahmed? Right now, we are seeing a tumultuous period when it comes to Saudi-Iranian relations, but that is also – if you put it in the bigger context of the current situation within the Middle East be it Syria, be it Bahrain or be it Yemen…

Ahmed: Yeah, absolutely. I think the most important area to work on is convincing the world powers, the United States and the Europeans, of the Saudi involvement in terrorism, just like the Saudis used the West against the Iranian people for over 30 years.

I think it’s turn the Iranians use the influence of the West and the United Nations against the Saudi monarchy and its terrorist policies.

Press TV: Well, do you think the West is ready to revise its ties with Saudi Arabia and reassess the role Saudi Arabia is playing within the region?

Ahmed: I think they will be ready if a sufficient effort is extended. And I think the best people now to do this are the Iranian government. I would say Mr. Javad Zarif is an excellent diplomat and I think he can achieve such an outcome.

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