Saudi Adviser Admits Iran Has Stronger Position than Kingdom: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An adviser to the Saudi government said the Islamic Republic exerts a stronger influence in the region than Saudi Arabia, saying Tehran possesses “more cards” than Riyadh.
“Iran is in a stronger position than Saudi right now,” The New York Times cited the Saudi adviser as saying, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to be more candid.
“They have more cards,” the Saudi said.
The New York Times also contends that for the moment, Iran has the upper hand, since it has successfully staked its position on supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war and has opened talks with Washington over its peaceful nuclear program.
The American daily notes that Iran’s current leg-up reinforces its position in Iraq, bolsters its allies who violently reject Israel and gives momentum to forces opposed to American influence in the region.
The shift also has emboldened Iran to seek stronger economic ties with other Persian Gulf states that Saudi Arabia would like to have firmly in its own camp.
Saudi Arabia has invited Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting in the city of Jeddah.
“Iran is a neighbor,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said last month. “We have relations with them and we will negotiate with them.”
However, the Iranian top diplomat said on June 1 that he could not take up the invitation since the conference coincides with the upcoming nuclear negotiations between Iran and six world powers in Vienna.
The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) will start on June 16 and Zarif, as Iran’s chief negotiator, will attend the talks.
