Saudi Arabia has dismissed the recently leaked U.S. diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks that say King Abdullah reportedly encouraged Washington to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In a statement released on Tuesday, which was carried by Arabic media publications, the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ossama al—Naqli said, “These documents do not concern the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, nor does the kingdom have any role in producing them, nor is it aware of their authenticity.”
The leaked cable from the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh had said King Abdullah “frequently exhorted the U.S. to attack Iran to put an end to its nuclear weapons programme“.
“The kingdom’s policies and positions have always been clear,” he said without elaborating. In another communication, the Saudi government said it has no relationship to these documents or any role in their wording, nor its validity and reliability.
“Therefore, Saudi Arabia would not comment on it”.
Overall, the Kingdom’s policy and positions are clear and well—known,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted a Foreign Ministry source as saying.
Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa asserted that the illegally leaked and published documents reflect U.S. officials’ own analysis and understanding of the conclusions of their joint meetings with the leaders and officials in the region as well as from other related events.
“The Kingdom has always supported the right of all countries to get nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, called for the need to make Middle East free from weapons of mass destruction, and urged all countries to adhere to the related international laws and conventions,” he added in a statement released on Tuesday.
“The Kingdom’s stances on regional issues have clearly been declared and confirmed at all of our joint meetings with international officials, as well as in our public statements, official meetings or press conferences,” he said.
Shaikh Khalid said that one-sided conclusions based on unilateral analyses will undoubtedly lead to false, incorrect and inaccurate results that would not serve regional security and stability. Three days before hosting the U.S. Secretary of State, Bahrain’s foreign minister has stressed the importance of quiet diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has said that Arab governments need to look beyond Iran, to Israel, which is the “main enemy of the Arab world“.
“It’s not Iran. They [Arab governments] have to take responsibility on Israel, which is the main enemy of the Arab world, the main enemy of the Palestinians, [with] the daily practices taken by the Israelis against the Palestinians.
Why do we go to Iran? We just say Iran. Why don’t we look at the other side of the picture,” Al Attiyah was quoted by the Arabic media as saying on the sidelines of the Afghanistan International Investment Conference.
