Iran aims to exercise hegemony over Arab countries: Aboul-Gheit

CAIRO – 8 November 2017: Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit stressed on Wednesday that Iranian interventions in the affairs of Arab countries reflect its desire to create tension and unrest in order to exercise hegemony over other nations.

He added that Iranian intervention in Arab countries is unacceptable. Aboul-Gheit also stated that Arab nations should demonstrate solidarity with Saudi Arabia in facing the serious security threats it is facing.

“The widening of conflict in Yemen by some parties with the aim of inflaming the situation in the whole region is regrettable,” he said.

Aboul-Gheit confirmed that regional stability will only be achieved when all parties fully reconsider their policies towards the Arabs and conduct a genuine review of the approach taken in previous years, which entered the Arab region in a cycle of conflict and turmoil.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday that Iran is supplying militias in Yemen with rockets which are considered "direct military aggression."

Iran's supply of rockets to the Houthi militants could "constitute an act of war against the Kingdom," SPA quoted the crown prince as saying in a telephone call with the British foreign minister.

Saudi air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saturday.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud announced late Saturday the formation of a new anti-corruption committee headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and ordered the detention of 11 emirs, four current ministers and dozens of former ministers.

The new body was given broad powers to investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and travel restrictions, and seize assets.

It’s said that the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of the king and owner of investment firm Kingdom Holding, faces allegations of money laundering, bribery and extorting officials.

Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was removed as head of the powerful National Guard, is accused of embezzlement, hiring ghost employees and awarding contracts to his own companies, including a $10 billion deal for walkie-talkies and bulletproof military gear worth billions of Saudi royals.

Former Riyadh Governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah is accused of corruption in the Riyadh Metro project and taking advantage of his influence to award contracts to his own companies, the official said.

Former Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, a board member of national oil giant Saudi Aramco, is accused of embezzlement related to the expansion of Mecca’s Grand Mosque as well as exploiting his position and inside information to benefit from land deals, the official added.

The accusations could not be independently verified.