Saudi Arabia Warns Iran Over Mounting Escalation
Prince Turki al-Faisal, a US-educated former Saudi intelligence chief and former Saudi envoy to the US, has sent a stern warning to Iran. According to him, the Iranian escalation will lead to “misadventure”, stressing the readiness of the Arab Gulf States to use all options available to defend their interests.
Al-Faisal, in a speech at a conference on security issues in the Gulf region, held in Manama on Tuesday, said that “everyone heard about the provocative maneuvers carried out in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, as well as statements by the leaders of Iran on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of neighboring countries.”
Quoted by the local media Wednesday the senior prince stated that “the increasing escalation and tension may lead to a misadventure or a military confrontation.” Prince Turki stressed that the Gulf states are not part of the conflict between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear program, however he noted that the GCC countries are fully committed to “legitimacy and international laws.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday that any Israeli decision on attacking Iran in order to stop its nuclear program is still “very far.” Barak told army radio “We did not make a decision to proceed with these things. We have no date for making such a decision. The whole thing too far.” In response to a question to clarify what he meant by “too far”, Barak said he did not want get into “expectations.”
