Saudi Foreign Minister warns Iran that patience in the Gulf is limited

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has issued a warning to Iran, stating that regional neighbors have significant capabilities to respond to Tehran’s aggression. The foreign minister made the statement during a news conference on Thursday.

Prince Faisal emphasized that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have substantial capacities and capabilities that could be utilized in response to Iranian attacks. He noted that the accuracy of some targeting efforts suggests that Iran had carefully planned its strategy, despite denials from Tehran’s diplomats.

The foreign minister also expressed concern over the patience being exhibited by Iran, stating that it is not unlimited. He urged Iran to recalculate its approach and stop attacking neighboring countries. Prince Faisal’s warning comes after a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries in Saudi Arabia earlier in the day to discuss the expanding conflict in the region.

On Wednesday, Iranian attacks were reported on Gulf energy sites, including Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas facility and the United Arab Emirates’ Habshan gas facility. The attacks resulted in significant damage and casualties. Iran had previously warned that oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE would face retaliation for an Israeli strike on its South Pars gasfield.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence reported intercepting four Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh and two launched towards the country’s eastern region. The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry also reported dealing with 13 ballistic missiles and 27 drones. Prince Faisal stated that restoring relations with Iran will take much longer than ending the war, as trust has been completely shattered due to Tehran’s tactics.

The foreign minister emphasized that Iran’s strategy of targeting neighboring countries is not a reaction to changing circumstances, but rather a deliberate approach built into its war planning over the past decade.

Source: Al Jazeera