Saudi Arabia today issued a stern warning to Iran that it would not
tolerate threats to the sovereignty of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The
warning comes after recent moves by Iran to reestablish its own sovereignty
over the three islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs which are strategically situated
on the Gulf's shipping lanes. President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Abu Musa in April and members of the Iranian Majlis
were introducing a bill to establish a “Persian Gulf Province” with Abu Musa as
its capital. The UAE also claims ownership over the same three islands.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Nayef delivered the warning in a speech at
a meeting of GCC interior ministers in Riyadh today:
“Any harm that comes across any of our countries is harm that touches
us all,” Prince Nayef said.
Nayef also condemned what he called Iran's "occupation" of
the three islands and its role in the Bahraini uprising.
“We stress that Saudi Arabia and the rest of the council countries are
standing in a unified line with Bahrain and the UAE to protect sovereignty and
stability, considering their security a part of the council's security as a
whole,” Nayef said.
Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said in a speech over the
weekend that the Arab states of the Persian Gulf are pushing ahead with plans
for a political union that would involve joint foreign and defense policies, an
idea floated by Saudi King Abdullah last December.
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