Iran accuses Riyadh of creating tension, calls Saudi comments ‘destructive’

Iran has condemned statements made by Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as “hostile,” accusing the Kingdom of pursuing “troublesome and destructive policies” in the region.

In a rare, televised interview on Tuesday, Prince Mohammed – who is also Saudi Arabia’s defense minister – had said Iran was seeking to control the Muslim world.

“How can I come to an understanding with…” the Prince said. “Iran is preparing the world for the arrival of the Mahdi” and wants to “control the Muslim world.”

In Islam, the Mahdi is a prophesized leader that is believed to rule for some time before the Final Day of Judgment.

During the interview, the Prince seemed to have ruled out any conciliation efforts with Iran, which the Kingdom has previously accused of stirring up conflict in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

Responding to the remarks, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi accused the Kingdom of raising “unconstructive allegations.”

“While the volatile region of western Asia needs understanding and cooperation among the countries more than any other time, such comments are far from political wisdom and strategic blunder,” he said.

Regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran presently have no diplomatic relations, after the Kingdom severed ties with Tehran in January last year, as tensions between the two nations escalated after the execution of cleric Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr.

Saudi-Iranian relations have also soured over arrangements for Iranian pilgrims to carry out the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Iranian pilgrims did not attend Hajj in 2016 due to political tensions.

A key point of contention between Riyadh and Tehran last year was safety, following the Hajj pilgrimage in 2015, which saw a crane accident in Makkah’s Grand Mosque, as well as a stampede. Hundreds of pilgrims were killed in the incidents, including 464 Iranians.