Alwaght-A desperate Saudi regime facing backlash for its crimes in the region is now trying to shift blame to Iran in an attempt to redeem its battered image globally.
Since March 2015, Saudi-led forces have inflicted heavy losses on Yemenis with almost daily bombardment of the impoverished country leaving over 10,000 dead including innocent women and children. On the other hand, Iran-Saudi ties have taken a turn to the worse following the bitter incident during last year’s Hajj pilgrimage which left over 7000 pilgrims dead including 465 Iranians. Under such circumstances, Iran has attempted to use legal and political means to end Saudi animosity.
In the midst of Iran’s efforts, the Saudi regime is now looking into ways of shifting blame for its crimes and failures.
On Sept. 14, a letter by Saudi Arabia to the UN Security Council alleged that Iran was transferring weapons to Yemeni fighters in violation of UN Resolution 2216. This not being enough, the Saudi regime recently complained to the Paralympic Committee that about inscription of the name of the ‘Persian Gulf’ on the clothes worn by the Iranian athletes competing in Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. In further antagonistic moves, during the just concluded Hajj ceremonies, the Saudi regime launched Persian-language television broadcasts from this year's Hajj. The channel has been spewing propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran instead of concentrating on its alleged core functions of educating pilgrims.
Hostility against Iran
These hostile actions point to a new approach by the Saudi regime aimed to hitting back to Iran which has been protesting the reckless conduct of Saudi officials regarding the Mina disaster in last year’s Hajj pilgrimage. It appears that the Saudi regime has decided not to accept responsibility and not to pay damages and compensation to countries including Iran whose citizens were killed or were injured during the Mina incident. As if this is not enough, the regime in Riyadh has now adopted a multi-pronged offensive approach towards those calling on it to account.
The Saudi monarchy is expanding anti-Iran campaign in legal, diplomatic, sports and media sectors while presenting itself a law-abiding regime. By attempting to change the reality and shifting the blame for their actions to Iran, the Saudis have turned to spreading and inciting Iranophobia.
Riyadh learns from Tel Aviv
This new approach by the Saudis reminds one of similar tactics used by the Israeli regime against Iran. No doubt the Saudi officials are reading from Tel Aviv scripts in their new desperate onslaught against Iran. Since its inception, the Israeli regime has been committing the worst atrocities, human rights violations and blatant aggression against Palestinian and neighboring countries. To whitewash its crimes, the Israeli regime makes use of mainstream media outlets under its control while relying on its strong lobby in the global bodies especially the United Nations to be dodge any blame while painting the victims as aggressors.
The Saudi regime, which has now made public its ties with the Israeli regime, is using the same tactics used by the Israeli to try and change it battered image globally by spreading Iranophobia.
Iran’s reaction
Iran strongly condemned Saudi Arabia's recent anti-Iran letter to the UN, saying that it includes “unsubstantiated claims that have not been verified by any independent entity”.
In a statement on Saturday, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations categorically rejected the allegations, as contained in Saudi Arabia’s letter to the President of the Security Council. “This letter includes unsubstantiated claims that have not been verified by any independent entity. These claims are raised against the numerous confirmed reports, documenting Saudi Arabia’s war crimes and violation of international law and international humanitarian law. Saudi Arabia has engaged in a year and a half long wide ranging, non-proportionate and irrational war against the people of Yemen, where they have undeniably committed crimes against defenseless women and children. Saudi Arabia has also decimated much of Yemen’s civilian infrastructure and not hesitated to destroy schools and hospitals,” part of the statement read.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs in a statement released on Saturday criticized politicization of sport by Saudi Arabia. The statement pointed out that the historical documents have always prevented efforts for changing the name of the Persian Gulf.
Apart from clarifying its position through statement, Iran can also engage members of the Non Aligned Movement, NAM, to further condemn brutal Saudi attacks on Yemen. NAM, which has 120 members has previously censured Saudi regime for its crimes in Yemen. Iran’s diplomatic apparatus can also file complaints to international courts and tribunals to compel the Saudi regime to compensate those who have suffered from its negligence and crimes, including families of Mina tragedy victims and Yemenis who continue to suffer daily from Saudi war crimes.
