Saudi Comments May Damage Diplomatic Ties, Says Iran

Iran's Foreign Ministry warned Saudi Arabia Tuesday that diplomatic ties between the two countries might be strained due to the remarks made by Saudi foreign minister that Iran was "part of the problem" in the Middle East.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal, Monday, accused Iran of having forces inside Syria, Iraq and Yemen. He also said that Iran was "part of the problem" in the crisis in the Middle East. "

Responding to Faisal's remarks, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said "The remark, if the report carried it precisely, is in contradiction with diplomatic negotiations between the two countries," reports the Associated Press.

Amirabdollahian said that Iran aids both Iraq and Syria in the fight against terrorism and opined that the present crisis in Yemen was a domestic issue.  He also criticized Saudi Arabia for sending troops to Bahrain to suppress the rebellion in that country in 2011.

Relation between Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Iran, the foremost Shiite force in Middle East, have been strained over different geo- political issues for a long time. Both the countries doubt each other and they support opposing sides in wars and political issues in Middle East counties like Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

 Iran insists that it has no forces on the ground in either Iraq, Syria or Yemen . It admits that it has sent advisers to help Syrian President Bashar Assad in the civil war and to Iraq to help the government fight the Islamic State militants.

 According to Iran analyst Mohammad Ali Shabani, the comments by the leaders of two nations show that the countries are cautious of each other's goals.

"Saudi Arabia still views Iran as its main threat and rival. Thus, cooperation with Iran over issues like Iraq is likely prompted by a sense that a lack of engagement will only harm Saudi interests," he said, reports Reuters.