Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman confirmed, in a television interview broadcast by "Al Arabiya," that Saudi Arabia views Iran as a neighboring country, noting that Riyadh aspires to establish a good relationship with it. However, he stated that the issue lies in Tehran's negative behavior, whether through its nuclear program or its support for illegal militias.
When asked about Iran, he affirmed, "Iran is a neighboring country, and we aspire to have a good relationship with it." He added, "We do not want Iran's situation to be difficult; on the contrary, we want Iran to grow and to have interests in it, as well as having interests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to promote growth and prosperity in the region and the world."
He continued, "Our problem is in the negative actions taken by Iran, whether through its nuclear program or its support for unlawful foreign militias in some regional countries or its ballistic missile program." He also confirmed that Saudi Arabia is working with its partners in the region and globally to find solutions to its issues with Iran.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized that Saudi Arabia cannot accept the presence of armed militias on its borders that threaten its security, reiterating his call for the Houthis to come to the negotiating table. He stated, "The Houthis have a strong relationship with the Iranian regime," adding, "The Houthi coup against legitimacy in Yemen is illegal."
He remarked, "There is no doubt that the Houthis have a strong relationship with the Iranian regime, but also the Houthis are Yemenis in the end and have a sense of Arab identity and Yemeniness that I hope will be more alive in them to consider their interests and the interests of their country before anything else."
He expressed hope that "the Houthis will sit at the negotiating table to reach solutions that guarantee the rights of all Yemenis and protect the interests of the countries in the region." The Crown Prince added that "Saudi Arabia does not accept the existence of an armed organization outside the law on its borders," stressing the necessity for the Houthis to accept a ceasefire and sit at the negotiating table.
He further stated, "The offer presented by Saudi Arabia is a ceasefire and economic support, and everything they want in exchange for the Houthis' ceasefire and sitting at the negotiating table."
