Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said that trust in Iran has been completely broken. He stressed that Iran cannot be considered a reliable partner as long as it continues its current actions.
He made these remarks during a press conference in Riyadh after a meeting with Arab and Islamic foreign ministers on Thursday.
Prince Faisal explained that Iran’s behavior shows it does not believe in real dialogue with neighboring countries. Instead, it uses pressure and political and security forces to deal with others.
He described Iran’s attacks on nearby countries and maritime routes as a serious escalation and a clear violation of international law. He said all countries at the meeting agreed on the need to stop these attacks and strongly condemned Iran’s actions, which they see as destabilizing.
The minister said the discussions focused on stopping Iran’s attacks on ships and neighboring states. He added that Iran follows a continuous strategy of weakening regional security by using pressure and supporting militias.
Prince Faisal stated that these attacks were “pre-planned” and not random. According to him, they are part of a larger, organized policy of escalation. He said such actions go against good neighbor relations, international agreements, and even Islamic values.
He also said Iran continues to act aggressively toward its neighbors while at the same time asking for unity and support from others.
The foreign minister rejected Iran’s explanations for its actions, calling them unconvincing and saying they are meant to hide a wider policy of coercion. He warned that ongoing mistakes by Iran could lead to political and broader consequences.
Prince Faisal emphasized that Saudi Arabia has the right to take necessary action when required and will make decisions at the appropriate time.
He added that Iran is wrong if it thinks Gulf countries cannot respond, saying the region is capable of protecting its security and interests.
He called on Iran to change its policies and stop actions that are increasing tensions in the region. He held Iran responsible for threats to maritime navigation and attacks on neighboring countries.
The minister also mentioned that Saudi Arabia had tried to improve relations through the Beijing Agreement, aiming for stability and development. However, he said Iran chose confrontation and expanding its influence instead of cooperation.
He said Saudi Arabia genuinely wanted a stable region, but Iran’s actions show it prefers managing crises and spreading tension rather than focusing on development.
Prince Faisal also referred to an attack targeting Riyadh while Gulf and Islamic diplomats were present. He said this showed clear escalation and Iran’s intention to send hostile messages even during diplomatic efforts.
He stressed that Iran will not stop unless it faces a strong response. He added that Saudi Arabia is not afraid of escalation and may take military action if necessary to protect its sovereignty and regional stability.
The minister rejected Iran’s claims of supporting Islamic causes. He pointed out that Iran has targeted several Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Jordan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Lebanon.
He also dismissed Iran’s claim that its actions are linked to the presence of the United States in the region, saying this argument is not believable since many targets had no connection to that issue.
Prince Faisal warned that continued attacks on Saudi energy facilities could impact not only the Kingdom but also global markets and economic stability.
In conclusion, he said Iran often carries out actions and then denies involvement. He described this as a repeated pattern that creates ongoing security risks for neighboring countries and the entire region.
