Tehran, June 18: Iran has on Monday accused its main rival Saudi Arabia of adopting a militaristic, crisis-based approach after it blamed Tehran for the recent oil tankers attacks in the Gulf of Oman.
According to Al-Jazeera news reports, the Iranian foreign ministry’s comment came on Monday a day after Riyadh crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, called over the international community to make a “decisive stand” on the recent attacks but stated Saudi Arabia did not seek war with Iran.
MbS told Saudi state-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper: “But we won’t hesitate to deal with any threat to our people, our sovereignty, our territorial integrity, and our vital interests.”
United States President Donald Trump backed MbS claims, but Iran denied any wrongdoing or involvement in the alleged reported oil tankers attack and further hinted Washington could itself have done so in order to ratchet up pressure on Tehran on the top of economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic.
On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi blamed Iran “wrong policies” for leading to an escalated regional frictions, which have caused a hike in oil prices and further concerns over the conflict in the region.
According to state-run TV, Mousavi said, “Salman’s charges against Iran in various situations is a continuation of Riyadh’s misguided approach and attempts at escaping the problems brought on by their own wrong policies.”
“Saudi Arabia has poured out the wealth of its people and countries in the region with a lack of proper understanding of the region’s variables with a militaristic, crisis-based approach,” he added.
Mousavi said the Saudi lacked “proper understanding of the region’s dynamics” and followed “an approach based on militarism and causing crises and tension”.