Al Jubeir calls for end to ‘rampage’ by Iran and its proxies across the world

Iran must stop its “rampage” across the world and behave like a normal country following international laws if it wants to be welcomed in from the cold, Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs said.

Adel Al Jubeir said the regime’s “export” of its revolution was unacceptable, as he listed the crimes carried out in recent decades by Iranian proxies in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.

Mr Al Jubeir also said there was “compelling” evidence that the September attacks on Saudi Arabian oil installations were carried out by Iranian-made missiles.

“Iran does not respect international laws, Iran does not respect the principle of non-interference in the affairs of other countries. Iran since the Iranian revolution has been on a rampage.

“What does Iran need to do? Very simple – act like a normal country,” Mr Al Jubeir told an audience at London’s Chatham House.

“Stop this murderous, aggressive behaviour and people will judge you by your actions, not by your words.”

The Saudi official also criticised the apparent links between Al Qaeda and Iran, and the latter’s hosting of the “virtual board of directors” of the terrorist group’s leadership.

He said Saudi Arabia respected Iran’s people and culture and had for tried four decades to extend a hand of friendship, but said the regime could not expect to be welcomed if its actions continued.

“The Iranians have to decide if they’re a revolution, which means you cannot deal with them, or they’re a nation-state, which means they are a rational actor who abides by international norms and principles.

“We wish they will choose to be the latter, and this is how the world will open up.”

In September, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi Aramco facilities that were widely condemned internationally.

Mr Al Jubeir said Saudi Arabia wanted to determine “beyond a shadow of a doubt” where the missiles were launched but said they had come from north of the oil facilities – and not south, from Yemen.

“We don’t want war, we’ve said all along we don’t want war because war is devastating to the whole region, but we can’t just sit there and be attacked constantly and indiscriminately by the Iranians or their proxies.”

He also described the 2015 nuclear deal enacted to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as “flawed”.

Mr Al Jubeir said the JCPOA did not address the Iranian regime’s support for its proxies and its ballistic missile programme.

Mr Al Jubeir said Saudi Arabia supported a political solution to the Yemeni conflict but added it had no choice but to support the Yemen government to prevent the country from falling into the hands of “radical” groups as Houthi rebels made their advances.

He also said criticism of the Saudi-led coalition’s actions in Yemen was not balanced.

Riyadh wanted regional stability to allow it to focus on internal matters and support the hopes and ambitions of the kingdom’s young people, Mr Al Jubeir said.