UAE ‘won’t remain idle in face of Iran’s threats’
Arab League to hold extraordinary meeting on Sunday at Riyadh’s request to discuss ‘violations’ by Tehran
A new Hezbollah is being built with the support of Iranian ideology and money.”
The time is ripe for Arab countries to work hand in hand with the international community against Iranian interference, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told the 4th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate which was held in the capital yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Arab League will hold an extraordinary meeting next Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss “violations” committed by Iran in the region, according to a memorandum shown to AFP by diplomats.
The UAE and Bahrain supported the Saudi request, which was also approved by Djibouti, the current chair of the Arab League, according to the memorandum seen yesterday.
Tensions have been rising between Saudi Arabia and Iran, including over League members Qatar and Lebanon.
Gargash’s comments come a week after an Iranian-made ballistic missile fired by Iran’s proxy Al Houthi militia towards the Saudi capital was intercepted by Riyadh.
The brazen attack was declared an ‘act of war’ which has set off a flurry of angry words between the two regional powers.
“This is a serious escalation — one that undermines Iranian claims about the defensive nature of its missile programme. The UAE will not remain idle under the shadow of such threat,” Gargash said.
“A new Hezbollah is being built with the support of Iranian ideology and money,” Gargash said, a reference to Al Houthi militants fighting the internationally-recognised government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Yemen.
This is why the new US administration’s commitment to addressing the Iranian challenge is welcomed by the UAE and a wider international consensus is needed to address the threat, he added.
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash | Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
The UAE will not remain idle under the shadow of Iran’s threat, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told the 4th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate being held in the capital on Sunday.
“In recent days, we have seen Iranian-made ballistic missiles fired by Iran’s proxy Al Houthi militia towards the Saudi capital, Riyadh,” he said.
“This is a serious escalation and one that undermines Iranian claims about the defensive nature of its missile programme. The UAE will not remain idle under the shadow of such threat,” Gargash said in his keynote speech before the two-day conference organised by the Emirates Policy Centre.
“A new Hezbollah is being built with the support of Iranian ideology and money,” he said, an inference to Al Houthi militants fighting the internationally-recognised government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Yemen.
Gargash said this is why the new US administration’s commitment to addressing the Iranian challenge is welcomed by the UAE and a wider international consensus is needed to address the threat.
“The international community will increasingly come to realise the grave risks associated with Iran’s expansionist behaviour,” Gargash said.
“There is now a real opportunity for Arab countries to work hand in hand with the international community against Iranian interference,” he said.
“It is only by adopting a strategy focused primarily on achieving stability, that we will be able to alter the current trajectory,” Gargash said.
The success of this strategy depends on a strong and developing Saudi Arabia, and a stable and robust Egypt, he said.
“Moderate Arab countries need to come together under a common and forward-looking agenda. One that values stability but also recognises the urgent need to improve the lot of our fellow Arabs throughout the region,” Gargash said.
His comments come within the context of escalated tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran which have seen serious developments in the past week.
There is now a real opportunity for Arabs to work with the international community against Iranian interference. Dr Anwar Gargash | UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs