Special Dispatch | No. 2613 | October 23, 2009
Saudi Arabia/Iran
Saudi Dailies: Iran Encourages Terrorism, Sectarian Strife in Arab Countries
Following the recent terrorist attack in Baluchistan, in eastern Iran, several articles appeared in the Saudi press harshly criticizing Iran's policy in the Middle East. Al-Sharq Al-Awsat editor Tareq Al-Homayed wrote that Iran has now tasted the same kind of terrorism and sectarian hostility that it has fostered for years in other countries. An editorial in the daily Al-Watan stated that Iran was working to destabilize the Arab countries by supporting organizations like Al-Qaeda, Hizbullah, and the Houthi rebels, and by stirring up strife between Sunnis and Shi'ites in the Arab world. An article in the 'Okaz daily said that Iran's actions might even prompt the Arab states to take similar steps and to try to destabilize Iran.
Following are excerpts from the articles:
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Editor: Iran Uses Extremist Groups in Our Region to Realize the Islamic Revolution’s Goals
The editor of the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Tareq Al-Homayed, wrote in an editorial titled "Iran – Terrorism Returns Home":(1) "The Iranian regime raised its voice in condemnation of terrorism and cast accusations against the West following the suicide bombing that targeted Revolutionary Guards leaders and others in the Sistan-Baluchistan province, near Iran’s border with Pakistan. [But] we could say here that terrorism has returned home, i.e. to Iran...
"The Iranians [have] tried to use extremist groups in our region in order to realize the Islamic Revolution’s goals, whether [these groups] are Al-Qaeda or other similar groups in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. [Moreover,] Iran was a stopover [for fighters] on the way to joining Al-Qaeda, [as reported by] some members who surrendered themselves recently in Riyadh, such as Fawwaz Al-Otaibi. In fact some of those who [passed] through Iran to join Al-Qaeda in Pakistan or Afghanistan [have] admitted that people wearing [Iranian] security uniforms facilitated their journey through Iran!...
"The second lesson to be learned from this suicide operation, for which the Iranian group Jundallah [has] claimed responsibility, is the danger of tampering with the sectarian issue… [This] issue, which Iran has exploited and continues to exploit in our region, blew up in the face of the Mullah regime, and did so violently…
"Exploiting terrorism for political or security reasons, and tampering with sectarianism, is fire that burns the hands of all of those who play with it and exploit these issues. This is what we have seen with regards to all the conflicts in our region for [many] years.
"The [October 19, 2009] suicide operation that took place in Iran clearly involved two matters that usually please Iran – suicide operations and the sectarian dimension. These are two issues from which we have suffered a great deal in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and even in Lebanon, Yemen, and Egypt – and of course the list goes on!"(2)
Al-Watan Editorial: "Iran and Its Secret Organizations... Ignited Fitna Between the Arab Sunnis and Shi'ites"
An editorial in the Saudi daily Al-Watan accused Iran of destabilizing Arab countries by supporting Al-Qaeda and by instigating sectarian conflict: "...Whatever harms the Arabian Peninsula and the Arab Gulf has an impact on the rest of the countries of the region, [and] if a country like Iran thinks itself safe from [the dire effects of] the deterioration of stability in the region, then it is wrong. Hence, it must reassess its policy on the security of the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula, and stop trying to destabilize the countries of the region. This is now clear to any reasonable person.
"Those who follow the events have identified Iranian intervention in some of the Gulf countries, as well as in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen. [This intervention] is carried out by means of agents from [Iran's] Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Basij, and the Iranian intelligence apparatuses, who use their resources and abilities to destabilize the countries of the region. The internal war in Yemen [between the Houthis and the government] is nothing but the result of Iranian meddling, for Iran's political and media support of the rebellious and destructive Houthi forces has become as plain as day.
"Concurrently with these irresponsible Iranian moves, the Iranian propaganda [apparatuses] are not ashamed to cast accusations at the Saudi Kingdom. We would like to ask Iran, and its filthy writers and spokesmen, a few questions: Who is it that drives the Lebanese to argue and quarrel, and works day and night to delay the formation of their government? Who is it that supplies the suicide bombers and gunmen with ammunition and explosives? Who is it that poisons the minds of the Iraqis with sectarian [hatred], when they were once loving brothers?
"Who is it that has begun to divide the countries of the [Gulf] Cooperation Council along sectarian lines, encouraging certain sectarian parties and groups to clash with their governments? Who is supporting the Houthis in Yemen with weapons and money, and boosting their confidence so that they clash with their state, after brainwashing them with the revolutionary ideology of Qom? Who has occupied the UAE islands? Who is flaunting imperialist dreams and wants to annex Bahrain? Who has harassed the pilgrims in Mecca and the visitors in Medina with strident cries, marches, and the blocking of roads? Who is now supporting Al-Qaeda and sheltering its leaders? Who has conspired against Egypt, and honored its terrorists by naming streets in Tehran after them?(3) Last but not least, who has turned the region's security, stability and peace into a bargaining chip [in its maneuvers] vis-à-vis America and the West, as part of a political struggle whose slogan is 'the nuclear bomb may turn into an all-out war?'
"Clearly, it was the fingers of Iran and its secret organizations that ignited fitna [civil war] between the Arab Sunnis and Shi'ites. [It is the Iranians] who are currently working to undermine the political unity of some Arab states, and it is they who are spreading and supporting terrorism. The Iranian mouthpieces, which are intended to revive hatred, racism, sectarianism, and violence, must stop spreading their poison in our nation.
"Moreover, the capabilities that [Iran now] utilizes to generate fear and conflict within the Arab societies must [instead be channeled] to benefiting the Iranian people – which is bearing a serious economic burden. Though the Iranian propaganda and intelligence apparatuses attempt to create [various] farces to distract [the world] from the role [Iran] is playing in undermining the security, stability and peace [of the region], they will fail to insult the intelligence of the Arab and Islamic peoples – for [these peoples] know that Iran's fingers, [which are busy] reigniting dormant conflicts, can be seen as plain as day."(4)
"What If the Countries Harmed by Iran's Intervention... Did The Same in Iran?"
In a column titled "What if the Sunnis Supported Baluchistan?" Saudi columnist Khalaf Al-Harbi wrote in the daily 'Okaz: "Today, armed [attacks] are resuming in Baluchistan in eastern Iran, where many members of the persecuted Sunni sect are rebelling [against the Iranian authorities]... Think what Iran would have said if the Arab countries with a Sunni majority had supported the Baluchi organization Jundallah in retaliation for [Iran's] support of Hizbullah, which is [acting] openly in Lebanon and clandestinely in most [other] Arab countries.
"What if the countries that have been harmed by Iran's intervention – [the countries] in which it has provided rebels with weapons, funds and military advisors – did the same in Iran? Couldn't this be regarded as a kind of self-defense [on the part of these countries]?
"Does Iran think it [can] continue pelting its neighbors with the stones of sectarian [strife], while they look on and refrain from pelting its glass house with similar [weapons]? Iran knows better than anyone else that Jundallah is not a marginal organization, as evidenced by the fact that it has negotiated with it more than once. Moreover, the [Iranian] political regime is now experiencing a historic rift.
"Hence, [Iran] stands to be the greatest loser if its foreign policy, which is based on the fanning of sectarian strife in the Arab world, were to continue."(5)
Endnotes:
(1) These excerpts are from the English edition of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat; the text has been lightly edited for clarity.
(2) Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), October19, 2009.
(3) This refers, for example, to the naming of a street in Tehran after Sadat assassin Khaled Islambouli.
(4) Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), October 22, 2009.
(5) 'Okaz (Saudi Arabia), October 21, 2009.
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