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Arab Foreign Ministers warn Iran of consequences for its aggressive interference in Arab affairs

The Arab League convened an emergency meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers, during which they criticized both the Islamic Republic of Iran and its Lebanese-proxy Hezbollah, warning that they would not stand by in the face of Iranian interference in Arab Affairs. Among the main topics of discussion was an incident, in which Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia. The attack was attributed to Iran’s aggressive regional interference, with Arab League officials accused the Islamic Republic of providing its proxies with sophisticated arms to target its Arab rivals. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abu el-Geit stressed, “The rocket that targeted Riyadh, was Iran made. It is a clear message showing Iranian hostility. Even Iranian officials were not able to improve how it looked. Arab capitals are in the cross-hairs of Iranian ballistic missiles. It is an unacceptable message, form or content. Arab countries are proud of their sovereignty and are able to defend their stability and security. They will not be held hostage for fear,” the Secretary General emphasized at his opening remarks. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir also commented on the Iranian threat, warning the Islamic Republic that Riyadh will respond to Iran’s ongoing aggression toward the Kingdom. He said, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will not stand with its hands tied over this blatant attack and will not languish in defending its national security and to preserve the security of its people. We are all required to be nationally responsible and preserve the stability and security of our nation to oppose these hostile Iranian policies towards us,” the Saudi top diplomat emphasized.

Hezbollah was not spared of its affiliation to Iran’s regional aggression, with Arab foreign Ministers accusing the Lebanese militia of orchestrating weapons transfers to Yemen, and assisting Houthi rebels in firing the Iranian-made ballistic missile to the Saudi capital, Riyad. In response to the allegations leveled at Hezbollah, Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun appeared to defend the Iranian-backed militia, which is part of Beirut’s coalition government, declaring Hezbollah as necessary to resist Lebanon’s enemy, the state of Israel. The backing by the Lebanese President came after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vehemently rejected the allegations, claiming it was part of Saudi’s ongoing rhetoric against his organization for its affiliation with Iran. Nasrallah said, “I confirm to them (Arab foreign ministers) – and they can go make sure – no ballistic missiles, no advanced weapons, and no guns; listen, for Arabs, I want to officially deny, we did not send weapons to Yemen, we did not send weapons to Bahrain, we did not send weapons to Kuwait, we did not send weapons to Iraq,” the Hezbollah leader asserted from an undisclosed location in a televised address.  

Regional tensions have risen in recent weeks between Sunni monarchy Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite Islamist Iran over Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri’s surprise resignation, and an escalation in Yemen’s conflict. The emergency Arab foreign ministers’ meeting was convened at the request of Saudi Arabia with support from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait to discuss means of confronting Iranian intervention across the Arab world.