Iran Blasts US, Israel, Saudi Arabia for Escalating Regional Tensions

RNA - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused US National Security Advisor John R. Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for fueling tensions against the Islamic Republic in the region.

News ID: 444520

Date: 28 April 2019 - 16:42

RNA - "They have all shown an interest in dragging the US into a conflict," Zarif said.

"I do not believe that US President Donald Trump wants to do that, I believe President Trump ran on a campaign promise of not bringing the United States into another war," he added.

The Iranian foreign minister, meantime, said "I believe President Trump's intention to put pressure, the policy of maximum pressure on Iran in order to bring Iran to its knees so that we would succumb to pressure" is doomed to failure.

In relevant remarks earlier this week, Zarif, in a Twitter message, criticized the US for keeping silent towards Saudi Arabia's execution of 37 men.

"Being a member of Bolton, Bin Salman, Bin Zayed and Netanyahu team gives immunity for atrocity crimes," he said.

"After a wink at the dismembering of a journalist, not a whisper from the Trump administration when Saudi Arabia beheads 37 men in one day—even crucifying one two days after Easter," Zarif added.

On Monday, Lijan al-Hirak al-Shaabi, a popular group protesting against the policies of the Saudi ruling system, in a statement underlined continued resistance against Riyadh, describing the House of Saud as a sponsor of terrorism.

The statement described the Saudi government as a "sponsor of terrorism", stressing that the flames of popular moves against the regime will not die.

"The Saudi regime which rules the Arab Peninsula, introduces itself as a supporter of Islam, while it is a sponsor of terrorism and it shelters terrorists by means of misusing global political support in return for economic resources that it has gained from people's assets and properties," it added.

The statement referred to the Saudi security forces' destruction of al-Mansoureh village in Qatif region, the birthplace of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the prominent Shiite cleric executed by Riyadh in 2016, saying that if the Saudi regime wants to annihilate the popular resistance, it will face more resistance.

Qatif, situated in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, has been the scene of anti-regime protests since 2011, with demonstrators demanding free speech, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination.

Riyadh has suppressed pro-democracy rallies, but to no avail as protests have intensified since January 2016 when the Al Saud regime executed respected Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

In 2017, Awamiyah, another Shiite-populated Qatif town, witnessed a deadly military crackdown on protests that were being held against the regime’s attempt to raze the historical Musawara neighborhood.

According to Fars News Agency, Saudi rulers claimed the district’s narrow streets served as a hideout for armed men who were behind the attacks on Saudi forces in Eastern Province.

Riyadh then deployed military forces with heavy weapons to the town, while bulldozers escorted by heavily armored military vehicles demolished several houses, businesses and historical sites across the region.

Dozens of civilians were killed during the weeks-long military crackdown. Some 30,000 people also fled the town.

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