Saudi Cabinet Rejects Iran's Destabilizing Behavior and Violation of Good Neighborly Principles

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman presided over the meeting of the Saudi Cabinet held yesterday in Jeddah. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the content of a phone call he received from US President Donald Trump, during which the two sides reviewed areas of cooperation between the two countries and a number of regional and international issues, reaffirming support for all efforts that contribute to achieving the security and stability of the region. He also informed the Cabinet of the outcomes of his talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Acting Minister of Media Ahmed Al-Rajhi clarified that the Cabinet strongly condemned Iran’s repeated attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as on Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, following its monitoring of developments on both the regional and international fronts. It firmly rejected Iran’s continued destabilizing behavior and its violations of the principles of international law, the UN Charter, the OIC Charter, and norms of good neighborliness.

The Cabinet expressed its welcome for the substance of the meeting held in Riyadh between the Saudi and Iraqi sides, which included Iraq’s reaffirmation of its commitment not to allow its territory and airspace to be used as a launching point for any operations or attacks targeting the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, or the region. It also welcomed the agreement to continue bilateral coordination in the interest of shared objectives.

The Cabinet welcomed the US announcement to begin procedures for repealing the “Sponsor of Terrorism” designation for the Syrian Arab Republic, which was imposed in 1979, reiterating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s support for the positive steps taken by the Syrian government to enhance security and stability, build state institutions, and realize the aspirations of its brotherly Syrian people.