This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/02/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-iran-defense-minister.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Says Dialogue With Iran Is Impossible Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Says Dialogue With Iran Is Impossible
(35 minutes later)
Saudi Arabia accused Iran on Tuesday of coveting control of the Muslim world and said dialogue with its Middle East rival is impossible. Saudi Arabia accused Iran on Tuesday of coveting control of the Muslim world and said dialogue with its Middle Eastern rival was impossible.
The Saudi Arabia criticism, made in a television interview by its defense minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was unusually blunt and suggested that the strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran may worsen, increasing instability in the region. The Saudi criticism, made in a television interview by its defense minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was unusually blunt and suggested that the strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran may worsen, increasing instability in the region.
Saudi Arabia, predominantly Sunni Muslim, and Iran, predominantly Shiite, support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen and a simmering conflict in Bahrain.Saudi Arabia, predominantly Sunni Muslim, and Iran, predominantly Shiite, support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen and a simmering conflict in Bahrain.
The Saudis are strong allies of the United States. They have been heartened by the Trump administration’s confrontational stance toward the Iranians compared to that of President Barack Obama. The Saudis are strong allies of the United States. They have been heartened by the Trump administration’s confrontational stance toward the Iranians compared with that of President Barack Obama’s.
Saudi-Iranian relations hit a low in 2016 when the Saudis severed diplomatic relations with Iran after the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was stormed by Iranian rioters, outraged over the Saudi execution of an outspoken Shiite cleric.Saudi-Iranian relations hit a low in 2016 when the Saudis severed diplomatic relations with Iran after the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was stormed by Iranian rioters, outraged over the Saudi execution of an outspoken Shiite cleric.
Signs of a Saudi-Iranian thaw emerged a few months ago when the Saudis said Iranians would be able to participate in this year’s hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. No Iranians attended the 2016 hajj, partly because of tensions over a human crush at the 2015 hajj that left more than 2,400 dead, including nearly 500 Iranians.Signs of a Saudi-Iranian thaw emerged a few months ago when the Saudis said Iranians would be able to participate in this year’s hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. No Iranians attended the 2016 hajj, partly because of tensions over a human crush at the 2015 hajj that left more than 2,400 dead, including nearly 500 Iranians.
But the Saudi prince appeared to douse any prospect of further improvement in the interview with the Saudi-owned MBC television. Excerpts were distributed to Western and Arab news agencies before the broadcast of the full interview Tuesday night.But the Saudi prince appeared to douse any prospect of further improvement in the interview with the Saudi-owned MBC television. Excerpts were distributed to Western and Arab news agencies before the broadcast of the full interview Tuesday night.
Asked if a direct dialogue is envisioned with Iran, the prince said that would be impossible because of what he described as the Iranian religious conviction that Shiites were destined to take over the Islamic world.Asked if a direct dialogue is envisioned with Iran, the prince said that would be impossible because of what he described as the Iranian religious conviction that Shiites were destined to take over the Islamic world.
“How do you have a dialogue with this?” the prince said.“How do you have a dialogue with this?” the prince said.
He was referring to the Shiite belief in Imam Mahdi, the so-called hidden Imam, said to be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad who will return to save the world from destruction. He was referring to the Shiite belief in Imam Mahdi, the so-called Hidden Imam, said to be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad who will return to save the world from destruction.
The prince said Iranians believe that “the Imam Mahdi will come and they must prepare the fertile environment for the arrival of the awaited Mahdi and they must control the Muslim world.”The prince said Iranians believe that “the Imam Mahdi will come and they must prepare the fertile environment for the arrival of the awaited Mahdi and they must control the Muslim world.”
Roughly a quarter of the global population of 7.5 billion are Muslims, the vast majority of them Sunnis. Roughly a quarter of the global population of 7.5 billion is Muslim, the vast majority Sunni.
There was no immediate response to the prince’s remarks from Iran. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said recently that his country has no fight to pick with Saudi Arabia, but he accused the Saudis of “fueling tensions in the region through their policies and stances.”There was no immediate response to the prince’s remarks from Iran. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said recently that his country has no fight to pick with Saudi Arabia, but he accused the Saudis of “fueling tensions in the region through their policies and stances.”