Larijani:

Iran Not to Forget Some Regional States’ Behavior

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani slammed recent moves by some regional states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to support US sanctions on the Islamic Republic, saying the country will not forget such behaviors.

News ID: 77100

Date: 28 April 2019 - 19:49

“Some of the regional countries should be careful (because) the Iranian people do not forget their behavior during regional developments,” Larijani said in a speech in Tehran on Sunday.

Iran will hold the countries accountable, the parliament speaker said, adding that it seems that they “do not listen to reason".

“Over the last 40 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has extended the hand of friendship to Saudi Arabia but some of their rulers do not understand this,” he noted.

“I do not know what these young people, who rule in Saudi Arabia, are looking for,” Larijani said, adding, “Their behavior will damage themselves and (other) Islamic countries.”

His comments came after Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf voiced the kingdom’s full support for the US decision to halt waivers for the customers of Iranian oil, saying Riyadh will continue efforts “to stabilize the oil market at all times by coordinating with other oil producers in order to ensure that sufficient supplies of oil are available to consumers.”

The White House said on Monday that US President Donald Trump “has decided not to reissue” waivers regarding sanctions against countries importing Iranian oil when the waivers expire “in early May”.

The exact deadline is May 2.

“This decision is intended to bring Iran's oil exports to zero, denying the regime its principal source of revenue,” the statement from White House press secretary Sarah Sanders read.

Countries that continue to import Iranian oil in large amounts include India, China, South Korea, Japan and Turkey.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to "ensure an appropriate supply (of oil) for the markets" in order to make up for the loss of Iranian oil in the global market.

Message end/