Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir reiterated on Sunday accusations that Iran was destabilizing the Middle East, vowing to continue to pressure Tehran to change its behavior.
"In order to ensure than Iran comports itself with international law, we must have firmer positions with regards to ballistic missiles and with regards to Iran’s support for terrorism," al-Jubeir said told Reuters in an interview during the annual Munich Security Conference.
"Iran must be held accountable."
Jubeir welcomed a draft United Nations resolution offered by Britain, the United States and France that would condemn Iran for failing to stop its ballistic missiles from falling into the hands of Yemen’s Houthi militias.
He told Reuters the measure, if passed, would help hold Iran accountable for what he described as its "exports of ballistic missiles" to the Iran-backed Houthis, and "radical and aggressive" behavior in the region, including support for terrorist groups.
He said Iranian missiles were regularly used by Houthis "to target civilians in Yemen as well as inside Saudi Arabia."
He blamed the Iranian revolution for spawning “terrorist groups like ‘Hezbollah’” in Lebanon.
He also charged Tehran with providing safe haven to slain al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
“In contrast to Iran’s policy, Saudi Arabia has never carried out an attack” against another country, remarked Jubeir.
Jubeir also called for changes to two aspects of the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran - cancellation of a so-called sunset provision, and expanded inspections to include non-declared and military sites.
The draft UN resolution, which needs to be adopted by February 26, is likely to face resistance from Russia. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain to pass.
Jubeir said he hoped Russia could be persuaded to support the measure.
The draft text to renew UN sanctions on Yemen for another year would also allow the 15-member council to impose targeted sanctions for “any activity related to the use of ballistic missiles in Yemen.”
Britain drafted the resolution in consultation with the United States and France before giving it to the full council on Friday, diplomats said.
On the developments in Yemen, Adel announced that the national army was making military advances on the ground, which coincides with the launch of a comprehensive humanitarian operation there.
On the appointment of Martin Griffiths as the United Nations envoy to Yemen, he said: “We look forward to cooperating with him.”
Griffiths, currently executive director of the European Institute of Peace, replaces Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who the UN said would step down after three years in the job when his current contract finishes this month.
