A Saudi diplomat says the kingdom does not want war, but will defend itself, amid a recent spike in tensions with Iran. A Saudi diplomat says the kingdom does not want war, but will defend itself, amid a recent spike in tensions with Iran. Adel al-Jubeir, the minister of state for foreign affairs, spoke a week after four oil tankers were targeted in an alleged act of sabotage off the coast of the United Arab Emirates – and days after Iran-allied Yemeni rebels claimed a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline. Saudi Arabia has blamed the pipeline attack on Iran. Mr al-Jubeir told reporters: “We want peace and stability in the region, but we won’t stand with our hands bound.”Ministers from major oil-producing countries were to meet in Saudi Arabia later Tuesday.

Source: Irish Independent May 19, 2019 07:18 UTC