jesuitsdidit
05-03-2009, 06:57 AM
Riyadh, discontent with the prospects of an Iran-US rapprochement, has called on other Arab nations to take a stand against Tehran.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=87492§ionid=351020101
Saudi Arabia lobbies for anti-Iran union
Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:46:59 GMT
Riyadh, discontent with the prospects of an Iran-US rapprochement, has called on other Arab nations to take a stand against Tehran.
Arab countries, in recent months, have kept a wary eye on the Obama administration's plans to directly engage Iran, fearing that the fence-mending efforts may eventually bring Tehran and Washington closer at the expense of Arab interests.
Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, intensified anti-Iran rhetoric on Tuesday when he urged fellow Arabs to forge "a unified and a joint vision" to face up to what he called "the Iranian challenge."
"In order to cement Arab reconciliation we need a common vision for issues that concern Arab security, especially the Arab-Israeli struggle and how to deal with the Iranian challenge," he added pointing to Iran's uranium enrichment and the security of the Persian Gulf region, he said.
Al-Faisal was addressing participants in the Arab League's meeting of 22 foreign ministers in its headquarters in Cairo.
Iran-Arab relations turned sour, after the Tehran government strongly criticized Arab silence and lack of action on the crisis that unfolded in the Gaza strip after three weeks of non-stop offensive by Israel.
The two sides traded blows when Iranian officials later condemned oil-rich Arab countries for their refusal to cut oil exports to Israel's allies in response to their support of the war on Gaza.
"The oil producers who need their income ... are not going to do that," reasoned al-Faisal at a news conference in Riyadh.
The clear call for Arab unity against Iran comes at a time when Arab countries have been grappling with a deep-running rift over the past few months.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa recently admitted that inter-Arab relations have deteriorated to an extent that is "particularly worrisome."
"There is a big chaos in the Arab world that makes the duty of the secretary general very difficult. . . I am not optimistic about the future of Arab joint action in the coming period," he said.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=87492§ionid=351020101
Saudi Arabia lobbies for anti-Iran union
Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:46:59 GMT
Riyadh, discontent with the prospects of an Iran-US rapprochement, has called on other Arab nations to take a stand against Tehran.
Arab countries, in recent months, have kept a wary eye on the Obama administration's plans to directly engage Iran, fearing that the fence-mending efforts may eventually bring Tehran and Washington closer at the expense of Arab interests.
Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, intensified anti-Iran rhetoric on Tuesday when he urged fellow Arabs to forge "a unified and a joint vision" to face up to what he called "the Iranian challenge."
"In order to cement Arab reconciliation we need a common vision for issues that concern Arab security, especially the Arab-Israeli struggle and how to deal with the Iranian challenge," he added pointing to Iran's uranium enrichment and the security of the Persian Gulf region, he said.
Al-Faisal was addressing participants in the Arab League's meeting of 22 foreign ministers in its headquarters in Cairo.
Iran-Arab relations turned sour, after the Tehran government strongly criticized Arab silence and lack of action on the crisis that unfolded in the Gaza strip after three weeks of non-stop offensive by Israel.
The two sides traded blows when Iranian officials later condemned oil-rich Arab countries for their refusal to cut oil exports to Israel's allies in response to their support of the war on Gaza.
"The oil producers who need their income ... are not going to do that," reasoned al-Faisal at a news conference in Riyadh.
The clear call for Arab unity against Iran comes at a time when Arab countries have been grappling with a deep-running rift over the past few months.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa recently admitted that inter-Arab relations have deteriorated to an extent that is "particularly worrisome."
"There is a big chaos in the Arab world that makes the duty of the secretary general very difficult. . . I am not optimistic about the future of Arab joint action in the coming period," he said.