Arab League backs Saudi Arabia in Iran dispute

Arab League states have thrown their weight behind Saudi Arabia, it the country's diplomatic war with Iran.

1 min read

10 January, 2016

Syria's seat remained empty while Arab states condemned Damascus' ally, Iran [AFP]

The Arab League states expressed their full support for Saudi Arabia in dealing with the "hostile acts and provocations of Iran" amid a diplomatic dispute between the bitter rivals.

In a communique, the pan-Arab bloc's foreign ministers meeting in Cairo condemned "hostile Iranian statements" issued in response to the execution of popular Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia on 2 January.

However, Saudi Arabia insists that it still supports efforts to resolve the Syria conflict despite the tensions with rival Iran, which has close links to the Syrian regime.

"We have previously stated our support for the Syrian opposition and for efforts to find a peaceful solution in Syria," said Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir in Cairo.

"This is still the case, we believe in this and we fully support (the peace process) despite our differences with Iran," he said.

Hours earlier, his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif said Riyadh was using the row with Tehran to "negatively affect" peace talks on Syria.