SAUDI ARABIA’S CROWN PRINCE ACCUSED IRAN OF “DIRECT MILITARY AGRESSION”

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said Iran supplying rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of “direct military aggression”, could be considered an act of war.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s comments were published after Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile north-east of Riyadh on November 5, launched by the Iran-allied Houthi militia which controls large parts of neighboring Yemen.

The supply of rockets to the Iran-allied rebel Houthi movement could “be considered an act of war against the Kingdom,” state news agency SPA on November 7 quoted Prince as saying in a call with British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson.

In reaction to the missile, Saudi Arabia would temporarily close all Yemeni ground, air and sea ports while investigating how the missiles were smuggled in. Yemen’s national airline, Yemenia, subsequently cancelled all flights to the country.

Iran also called some attention in regards to the 2015 nuclear agreement. The Jerusalem Post claims that Iran may not be fulfilling the agreement, citing officials continuing to disagree over whether Tehran is in compliance with the accord.

Despite US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and US Defense Secretary James Mattis saying that Iran is adhering to its obligations, US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has accused the Islamic Republic of directly contravening the deal. The Iranians are “not just walking up to the line on the agreement,” he asserted, “they’re crossing the line at times.” Likewise, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley recent contended that Trump “has grounds” to declare that Iran is not complying with the accord.

According to the publication, Tehran has crossed that line twice, including surpassing the designated limit on heavy water and developing of advanced centrifuges. These violations have been downplayed by the experts.

Iran’s continued development of intercontinental ballistic missiles has also generated concern. While the 2015 nuclear deal did not place restrictions on the program, UN resolution 2231 requires Tehran to grant full access to IAEA inspectors and discourages Iran from advancing its ballistic missile technology. Iranian ballistic missile development had been prohibited in UN Security Council resolution 1929, but Tehran pushed hard to rescind the ban and the Obama administration relented, softening the language in UN Security Council resolution 2231, which replaced resolution 1929.

The new resolution’s ambiguous language essentially paves the way for Iran to develop its delivery system for nuclear payloads without violating the nuclear deal and without triggering any international response.

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