President Hassan Rouhani says Iran is willing to repair its relationship with Saudi Arabia if the oil-rich nation denounces Israel and halts its military assault on Yemen.
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"Saudi Arabia should suspend its bombardment of Yemen and stop begging for contacts with the Zionist regime," the leader said. During the address in parliament on Sunday, Rouhani also said the Islamic Republic would have no problem with Saudi Arabia if it quit "bowing to Israel."
"We want Saudi Arabia to stop two things, the misguided friendship with Israel and the inhuman bombardment of Yemen."
About a month ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tel Aviv had "fruitful cooperation with Arab countries" that is kept "in general secret."
Iran and Saudi Arabia relationship became strained after the Sept. 2015 stampede in Hajj, where hundreds of lives were lost. Tensions then escalated following Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed in Jan. 2016.
The Iranian president also took time out to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump's decision regarding Jerusalem.
"After regional powers' conspiracy to let terrorist groups dominate the oppressed people in the region was defeated, the Americans today have launched a new plot with the help of the Zionists, which is an aggression on the sacred Quds," Rouhani said.
"We were not, are not and will not be silent in the face of the conspiracies of the big powers, the U.S., the arrogance and the Zionism," he stated.
Tehran was tasked with rejecting accusations that they are responsible for arming Yemen's Houthi rebels, saying the Saudi Kingdom is misguided and should not view the Islamic Republic as an "enemy."