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Saudi Arabia, UAE join Israel for regime change in Iran
First public appearance with Israel suggests Saudi Arabia, UAE frustration
In a more aggressive tone against Iran, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to US, and the director of Israel’s Mossad spy agency have joined ranks in pushing for regime change in Tehran.
According to Aljazeera report from New York, speaking alongside US NSA John Bolton and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir called for the overthrow of the Iranian regime, saying that it was unlikely to change on its own volition.
While addressing United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) conference in New York, al-Jubeir on Wednesday said, “Unless the pressure internally is extremely intense, I don’t believe they will open up.” The conference was attended by states that opposed the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Generally, Israel and Saudi Arabia led coalition have supported Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
The meeting of the top officials from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel has taken place in the aftermath of a terror attack on a military parade in Iran’s south-western city Ahvaz, killing 29 people including women and children.
Iranian authorities have alleged US, Saudi Arabia and UAE for supporting, training and financing al-Ahvazia, a separatist Arabic speaking Sunni group.
During the New York conference, the Saudi top diplomat reportedly said, “How can we negotiate with a state that wants to kill us.” However, he did not succeed in proving his point with any substance.
Read More: Isolated Trump gets Saudi Arabia, Israel support on Iran deal withdrawal
Saudi and Emirati officials welcomed Washington’s decision to abandon the 2015 Iran deal under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, it reported.
But Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to the US, said external pressure was needed and would be key in changing Iran’s course. He said, “I think any recalibration of Iranian foreign policy will come from external policy.” He was of the opinion that isolation of Tehran must be backed up by European powers, Asian nations, as well as the US.
He sounded that the monarchies in the region and Israel were at risk of Iranian possible aggression saying, “If a missile is launched at Saudi Arabia and the UAE what will the reaction be and how will we be defended? I ask that hypothetically but it’s not really hypothetical. The Gulf countries, Israel, and the countries in the immediate vicinity are the ones at immediate risk.”
UAE’s ambassador also warned that Iran was orchestrating a takeover in Yemen. He said that the recent UN-led peace talks supposedly exposed Iran’s role in directing the Houthi leadership. Houthis didn’t show up in the peace talks in Geneva on September 6, alleging that Saudi Arabia and UAE, involved in fighting in Yemen, blocked their travelling.
Read More: Iran rejects Saudi Arabia allegation of supplying missiles to Houthis
“Our analysis tells us it was based on instructions from Tehran that they did not turn up,” al-Otaiba said.
He said that Lebanon, where Hezbollah resistance group has achieved political power as ruling coalition partner, should not be repeated in Yemen. He said, “We have a vested interest in ensuring what happened in Lebanon does not happen in Yemen. We’re accumulating risk in the Middle East by not getting at Iran’s proliferation.”
Brian Hook, the State Department’s special representative for Iran, while participating in the conference, accused Iran of supplying the missiles to Houthi fighters which are fired by into Saudi Arabia and UAE.
UAE’s envoy said, “There is something brazen about this missile behaviour, they’re not even hiding it. This sort of escalation is deeply concerning and will be met with a swift and decisive response.”
Read More: Iran, Saudi Arabia confront at Munich conference
Since its withdrawal from the Iran deal in May this year, the US administration has slapped first layer of sanctions on Tehran in early August. The second phase of the sanctions, including against oil exports, will be imposed in November 5.
However, top diplomats from France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia, in a meeting with Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif in New York on Tuesday have agreed to establish an alternate mechanism in the European Union to facilitate payments for Iranian exports.
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India-Canada row: No special exemption to India, says US NSA Jake Sullivan
Jake Sullivan asserted that this is something that they will keep working on, noting that there was no special exemption to India in the case.
The United States on Thursday affirmed that it is in constant communication with India and Canada amid increasing diplomatic tensions between both the countries. The diplomatic standoff broke out after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that his country’s security agencies were investigating a link between the Indian government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Speaking on the matter, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that the US will be in contact with India at the highest level. He added that it is a matter of concern for them and they are taking it seriously. He asserted that this is something that they will keep working on, noting that there was no special exemption to India in the case.
He underlined that there is not some special exemption for actions like this. He added that regardless of the country, they will stand up and defend their basic principles. In addition, he affirmed that the US will also consult closely with allies like Canada as they pursue their law enforcement and diplomatic process.
Jake Sullivan further dismissed reports that the US’s desire to strengthen ties with India would constrain its ability to voice concerns about the allegations. He asserted that the Joe Biden administration took Canada’s allegations seriously and it was in constant contact with Ottawa.
He also noted that the US have deep concerns about the allegations and that they would like to see this investigation carried forward and the perpetrators held to account. Meanwhile, New Delhi outrightly rejected Canada’s allegation as absurd and motivated. In a tit for tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case, New Delhi expelled a senior Canadian diplomat.
On Thursday, India asked Canada to take action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil. Furthermore, India also suspended visa services for Canadians, as the diplomatic standoff over Nijjar’s killing pushed their ties to an all-time low.
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Canadian High Commission asks Centre to ensure safety, security of its diplomats, staff in India
The High Commission affirmed that all consulates in India are open and operational and will continue to serve clients.
Amidst rising tensions between India and Canada, the Canadian High Commission on Thursday asserted that some of its diplomats have received threats on social media. It urged India to provide security for Canadian diplomats and consular officers in the country. The High Commission further revealed that it has decided to temporarily adjust its staff presence in the country.
The High Commission also affirmed that all consulates in India are open and operational and will continue to serve clients. It added that in the view of the current environment where tensions have heightened, they are taking action to ascertain the safety of their diplomats. It further underlined that Global Affairs Canada is continuously supervising the safety and security of their missions and personnel as they maintain a strict security protocol to respond to any events.
On the other hand, the Vancouver Police Department has tightened security outside India’s Consulate amid planned threats from proscribed group Sikhs for Justice after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that Indian government agents were responsible for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Const. Tania Visintin, the department’s media relations officer, noted that Vancouver police are not aware of any specific threats to Indian consular officials, but have increased police presence at the downtown Vancouver consulate.
In a shocking claim on Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed the country’s security agencies were investigating a link between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar. Following this, both India and Canada have been engaged in a diplomatic standoff. Earlier on Thursday, India suspended visa services for Canadian nationals until further notice owing to operation reasons.
In a meeting that was held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly conveyed strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada, promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.
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Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for Sukhdool Singh’s killing in Canada
Terming Sukhdool Singh, a drug addict, Bishnoi’s gang claimed that he destroyed the lives of many people and that he was untimely punished for his sins.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has reportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of terrorist Sukhdool Singh in Canada’s Winnipeg city. According to reports, in a Facebook post, Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang stated that Sukhdool Singh, aka Sukha Dunuke, had played a pivotal role in the killings of gangsters Gurlal Brar and Vicky Middkhera. They further alleged that the murders were plotted by Sukhdool Singh when he was staying abroad.
Terming Sukhdool Singh, a drug addict, Bishnoi’s gang claimed that he destroyed the lives of many people and that he was untimely punished for his sins. Lawrence Bishno’s gang also alleged that Sukhdool Singh, a member of Davinder Bambiha, also got Sandeep Nangal Ambiya, another gangster, killed. They added that it gave a stern warning to their enemies, stating they would not be able to live in peace, even if they hide in India or any other country.
The Killing of Sukhdool Singh came amid growing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of another Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British California. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a gurdwara in June.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Bishnoi is currently behind bars in Ahmedabad in a drugs smuggling case probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In addition, he is also an accused in the Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala murder case.
Sukhdool Singh is reportedly an A-category gangster, who hailed from Punjab’s Moga and earlier escaped from his state to Canada. He was an aide of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala. As far as reports are concerned, in 2017, Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Dunuke obtained a passport and a police clearance certificate on forged documents to flee to Canada despite having seven criminal cases lodged against him.
Reports suggested that Sukhdool Singh, an aide of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, was killed in an inter-gang rivalry.
