Saudi meddling in Lebanon ‘shameful’: President Rouhani

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran denounces Saudi Arabia’s interference in Lebanon, saying it is “shameful” that a Muslim state has “begged” the Israeli regime to carry out military strikes against the Lebanese nation.

“It is very reprehensible and shameful for a Muslim country in the region to beg the Zionist regime [of Israel] to bomb the people of Lebanon,” President Hassan Rouhani said at a government meeting on Wednesday, Press TV reported.

“It is unprecedented in history for a Muslim country to take such measures, and this indicates the immaturity of the individuals, who have come to power in those countries,” President Rouhani added.

Addressing the meddlers, he asked, “What position are you in and by relying on what authority do you take such measures? How long do you think [your] money can serve [your] purposes?”

‘Shameless Saudi still attacking Yemen’

President Rouhani further lashed out at the Saudi regime for its bloody military campaign against Yemen and asked, “Why has a country, which considers itself to be serving the two sanctuaries [of Mecca and Medina], has come to pressure the innocent and Muslim people of Yemen in such a way?”

Leading a number of its vassal states, Saudi Arabia has been conducting military strikes on Yemen since March 2015 to restore a former pro-Riyadh regime.

More than 12,000 have died since the war began.

The Iranian chief executive added that Riyadh has never either apologized or expressed regret over the invasion, and continues its atrocities in Yemen.

“The United Nations has adopted silence in the face of these crimes, and refuses to take a decisive and binding position, and European powers support such crimes as well,” he asserted.

Foreign meddling in region

The president also said the Middle East region has never benefited from foreign meddling.

“Some parties in the region once thought that by presence of big powers, security would be established here. Therefore, some relied on the UK, the US and foreign powers,” he said, adding, “Today, however, everyone has completely witnessed that the presence of foreign powers has brought no benefit to the region.”

The foreigners used their presence in the region to promote and sell their weapons, interfere in regional market, and manipulate oil prices, President Rouhani said.

Whenever American officials came to visit the region, the flames of war and tension went up in some area there, he concluded.

SS