Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has challenged Donald Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, declaring that the President’s rhetoric is aimed at "milking” Saudi Arabia for hundreds of billions of dollars.
Zarif used Twitter for his response to speeches by Trump and Secretary of
State Rex Tillerson criticizing Iran for support of "terrorism”, repression of
human rights, and an undemocratic political system.
Commenting a day after the re-election of centrist President Hassan Rouhani
was confirmed, Zarif responded while noting Trump’s emphasis on the Saudi
purchase of $110 billion of US arms immediately and $350 billion over 10 years,
as well as announcements of Saudi investment in the US:
Zarif also used an editorial for the London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed to
advise Trump to discuss with the Saudis how to avoid another September 11
attack.
[Trump] must enter into dialogue with them about ways to prevent terrorists
and Takfiris from continuing to fuel the fire in the region and repeating the
likes of the September 11 incident by their sponsors in Western
countries.
Fifteen on the 19 hijackers on September 11, 2001 had Saudi passports.
The Trump Administration has been promoting the President’s trip as part of
an effort to build an Arab coalition in the region. Iran perceives the effort as
an attempt, combined with ongoing US sanctions, to isolate the Islamic
Republic.
Zarif tweeted on Saturday, before Trump met leaders and representatives from
some Gulf countries, Arab States such as Egypt, and Turkey in a "Riyadh Summit”
yesterday:
