Saudi King Salman denounces Iran in UN speech

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz took aim at Iran during his debut at the annual United Nations meeting of world leaders.

He said Iran has exploited a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers “to intensify its expansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism”, adding this had produced nothing but “chaos, extremism, and sectarianism”.

“A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required,” he told the 193-member General Assembly in a video statement. “Our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security.”

The United States quit the Iran nuclear pact in 2018, with President Donald Trump dubbing it the “worst deal ever.” Trump has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran and asserted that all countries also have to reinstate UN sanctions. 

“Our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security,” King Salman said.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Houthi movement over five years.

King Salman said the Middle East has been suffering from major political and security challenges, blaming Iran for much of the region’s instability. He also accused the Hezbollah group in Lebanon of sowing the political disarray and said the “terrorist organisation must be disarmed.”

King Salman did not mention the recent deals struck by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain to establish ties with Israel. Regarding attempts to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians, he said the 2002 Arab peace initiative is the basis for a “comprehensive and just solution” ensuring the Palestinians obtain an independent state,

“We support the efforts of the current US administration to achieve peace in the Middle East by bringing the Palestinians and the Israelis to the negotiation table to reach a fair and comprehensive agreement,” said Salman.