March 17, 2017
Saudi Arabia has induced Malaysia to join in the strong Saudi criticism of the Islamic Republic for “interference” in countries of the Islamic world.
Saudi King Salman made a state visit to Malaysia last month. In a joint statement issued at the end of the visit, the Malaysian government “expressed strong concerns over Iranian interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region,” stressing that Iran “must respect countries’ sovereignty.”
Malaysia has generally been on good terms with Iran, but in the last few years, the Sunni clergy of Malaysia have launched a nasty anti-Shia campaign as it has seen Malaysians coming back from Iran and promoting Shiism.
In Tehran, the Islamic Republic responded harshly to the joint statement.
Foreign Ministry spoke-sman Bahram Qasemi called the statement “delusional,” hardly a diplomatic term, saying the statement’s language was in line with Saudi Arabia’s “improper, totally false, and targeted campaign, which is being waged at a very high cost” against Iran.
“The principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as an effective and peaceful country, is based on mutual respect and non-interference in the affairs of other countries,” he said.
Iran’s policy, he added, is also based on “coexistence and cooperation with all neighbors and countries of the region and the world in order to strengthen stability, security and peace and a relentless fight on terrorism.”