Saudi Arabia Issues Stern Warning to Iran Over Regional Aggression
Saudi Arabia has reiterated its firm stance against Iranian aggression, with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasizing that the Kingdom's patience is not unlimited. Speaking after a high-level meeting of foreign ministers in Riyadh, Prince Faisal stated that Saudi Arabia's immediate priority is to halt attacks targeting Gulf countries, but it reserves the right to take military action if necessary.
Focus on Protecting Regional Stability
According to reports from Al Jazeera, Prince Faisal highlighted that Saudi Arabia is focused on safeguarding regional stability. He told reporters, "What I care about now is that the attacks on my country and on my neighbouring countries, that are not involved in this conflict, end. That's all I'm interested in." The minister added that Riyadh would employ all available means, including political, economic, and diplomatic levers, to stop these assaults.
Reserving the Right to Military Response
Prince Faisal warned that Iran's tactics of pressuring neighbors rather than engaging in dialogue are doomed to fail. He asserted, "The Kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and, on the contrary, this pressure will backfire... politically, will backfire, I believe, morally, and certainly, as we have stated clearly, we reserve the right to take military actions if necessary." This statement underscores Saudi Arabia's readiness to defend itself against provocations.
Trust in Iran Severely Damaged
The foreign minister also expressed that trust in Iran has been completely shattered due to premeditated attacks on neighboring nations. He accused Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure, dismissing justifications related to US military bases as unconvincing. Prince Faisal noted that continued aggression would only deepen Iran's isolation and called for a collective response to threats against freedom of navigation.
Recent Attacks and Diplomatic Efforts
In a concerning development, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying four ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting. Prince Faisal described this as a blatant attempt at blackmail, timed to intimidate participants. He confirmed attacks on two refineries in Riyadh, warning that such actions reflect misjudgments by Iran that will yield no gains.
The meeting in Riyadh concluded with agreement among foreign ministers that Iran must immediately halt support for its proxy groups. Prince Faisal expressed hope that Tehran would reassess its actions and stop attacking neighbors, but reiterated Saudi Arabia's unwavering stance in the face of aggression.
