Iranian President Hassan Rowhani has warned it would fend off any military challenge from Saudi Arabia. Photo: EPA
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https://scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/2119584/saudi-arabia-calls-arab-league-meeting-tensions-iran-flare Middle East
Saudi Arabia calls Arab League meeting as tensions with Iran flare over Yemeni missile
Request was based on a missile the Sunni-ruled kingdom says its air defences intercepted near Riyadh after being fired from Yemen on November 4
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has accused Iran of “direct military aggression” against the kingdom by supplying the rebels with ballistic missiles. Photo: Reuters
The Arab League will hold an extraordinary meeting next Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss “violations” committed by Iran in the region, according to a memorandum.
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates supported the Saudi request, which was also approved by Djibouti, the current chair of the pan-Arab bloc, said the document shown to Agence France-Presse by diplomats on Sunday.
Tensions have been rising between Saudi Arabia and Iran, including over League members Qatar and Lebanon.
According to the memo, the Saudi request was based on a missile the Sunni-ruled kingdom says its air defences intercepted near Riyadh after being fired from Yemen on November 4.
A Saudi-led coalition has been battling Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen, and it has accused the Iran-backed rebels of firing the missile.
Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman later accused Iran of “direct military aggression” against the kingdom by supplying the rebels with ballistic missiles.
But Iran denied any involvement in the missile attack, with President Hassan Rowhani warning that the Islamic republic’s “might” would fend off any challenge.
According to the memo, Saudi Arabia decried what it described as “sabotage” and “terrorism” over a pipeline fire in Bahrain on Friday that temporarily halted oil supplies from its territory.
Tehran also rejected any involvement in the incident, calling the allegation “childish”.
In its request for the meeting of Arab foreign ministers, Saudi Arabia referred to those two incidents “in addition to the violations committed by Iran in the Arab region, which undermines security and peace, not only in the Arab region, but around the globe,” according to the memo.
A Qiam missile displayed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard during a military parade in Tehran earlier this year. Photo: AP
Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of a dispute with Qatar since June 5, leading a group of nations including Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE in accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.
Riyadh has for its part been accused of being behind last weekend’s resignation of Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri, in a televised address from Riyadh.
The Arab League has 22 members, but Syria’s membership was suspended at the end of 2011 following months of brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and an opposition movement supported by Gulf monarchies.