- The two officials discussed recent attacks in the region
- US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook was in Riyadh on Friday
AL-KHARJ: 抖阴短视频鈥檚 Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
During the meeting, they discussed relations between the two countries and efforts to counter hostile Iranian activities that threaten the security and stability of the region.
The latest Iranian attacks on the Kingdom, including its support of Houthi terrorist militias in Yemen by providing drones and missiles to attack civilian facilities as well as recent attacks on the two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, were also discussed.
In a tweet, Prince Khalid said: 鈥淲e affirmed the Kingdom鈥檚 support for the United States maximum pressure campaign on Iran, which came as a result of continuing Iranian hostility and terrorism, and discussed the latest Iranian attacks on the Kingdom.鈥�
The two sides discussed the latest developments in Yemen, especially Iran鈥檚 efforts to spread terrorism as well as its use of Yemen as its main center for carrying out aggressive acts.
鈥溾��(Iran) neglects the humanitarian needs of the Yemeni people in favor of using the country as the main launchpad for its regional terrorism,鈥� Prince Khalid said.
Later, speaking to reporters in Al-Kharj, Hook said that the Iranian regime practiced an aggressive foreign policy and it was important to do everything to de-escalate tensions.
Hook said: 鈥淭he Iranian regime runs an expansionist and violent foreign policy through surrogacy such as the Houthis, Shia militia in Iraq and Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.鈥�
鈥淥n the latest efforts to counter Iranian attacks through their surrogates in 抖阴短视频, our maximum pressure campaign against Iran is working, Iran is feeling the pressure of the campaign,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 was able to tour the display of Iranian weapons that have been intercepted in 抖阴短视频 and this display is important; the entire world needs to see,鈥� Hook said.
鈥淲e have a similar display in Washington, DC at our Department of Defense and there is, without a doubt, Iran鈥檚 efforts to use surrogates who they train and equip to attack 抖阴短视频 and destabilize the region, which needs to be countered.鈥�
鈥淭he US works very closely with the coalition to degrade the Houthis鈥� military capabilities to improve targeting and to check armed shipments,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we do not succeed in this effort to counter Iran in Yemen, we will increase the risk of regional conflict in the region,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t is also important as we see Iran threatening the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,鈥� he said, adding that it was vital that Iran did not gain a base in Yemen.
鈥淭his is certainly the long game that the Iranian regime is playing and the world right now is very focused on what鈥檚 happening in the Gulf, and what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz,鈥� Hook said.
鈥淚ran has ambition to take that same playbook and apply it in Bab-el-Mandeb, which would further threaten freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o it is important that we deny Iran a foothold in the Gulf.鈥�