Latest world news

Saudi Arabia, UAE join Israel for regime change in Iran

Published

8 years ago

September 27, 2018

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

Related Topics:Iran Israel Saudi Arabia UAE

Up Next

Pakistan: War with India is not an option, dialogue is key

Don't Miss

Trump-Rouhani Rhetoric Continue At UN General Assembly

Latest world news

Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

Published

2 days ago

September 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.

Latest world news

PM Modi’s Canada visit could help wrap trade talks, says Canada PM Mark Carney

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is looking forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi, with both countries aiming to conclude their ongoing trade negotiations.

Published

3 days ago

September 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Canada continue efforts to advance their bilateral relationship and conclude ongoing trade negotiations.

The two countries have been working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both sides previously setting a target to conclude the negotiations in 2026.

Carney and Modi have held discussions on strengthening economic ties between India and Canada, including trade and investment. Their engagement has gained momentum following Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.

India-Canada trade talks

India and Canada formally resumed efforts towards a broader trade agreement after a period of strained bilateral ties. The two sides have committed to advancing negotiations on a CEPA covering their economic relationship.

In June, Carney and Modi reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the talks in 2026.

During Carney’s visit to India in March, the two leaders had also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the CEPA and work towards finalising the agreement during 2026.

Modi’s proposed Canada visit

Carney had invited PM Modi to visit Canada in 2026, and the two leaders agreed to remain engaged through diplomatic channels to work towards a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa seek to build on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the relationship.

The focus on completing the trade talks comes as both countries look to expand commercial ties and establish a broader economic framework through the proposed CEPA.

Latest world news

Trump issues fresh Iran warning at UN General Assembly, signals deal after midterms

US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran during his UN General Assembly address, saying he faces a choice between a deal and further escalation.

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2026

APNLive Desk

US President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to outline what he described as a major decision over Iran, putting the possibility of a deal against further military escalation.

Speaking at the UN in New York, Trump said he had a “big decision” to make. He questioned whether the United States should pursue an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild or instead take further action against the Islamic Republic.

Trump later indicated that he believed an agreement with Iran could be reached after the US midterm elections, which are scheduled for November 3.

Trump says deal with Iran remains possible

During his speech, Trump presented two possible paths. He said a deal could allow Iran to rebuild and become a stronger country, while also raising the possibility of destroying the Islamic Republic if an agreement was not reached.

Trump said he believed a deal could eventually be reached, arguing that Iran was waiting to see the outcome of the US midterm elections.

His comments came amid the continuing US-Iran conflict and renewed diplomatic activity surrounding the confrontation. Trump’s UN appearance came as Washington was also engaged in discussions with multiple international leaders over the Iran conflict and other global issues.

Iranian delegation walks out during Trump’s speech

The Iranian delegation reportedly left the General Assembly chamber as Trump began describing the military confrontation with Iran.

According to the report, only one person from the Iranian delegation remained seated as Trump spoke about the conflict and the military strikes of the past six months.

The walkout came as tensions between Washington and Tehran remained high, with both sides facing pressure over the continuation of the conflict.

Trump’s latest warning follows earlier comments

Trump’s UN remarks came days after he said he was approaching a major decision over whether to intensify military action against Iran or pursue another route.

He had also indicated before his UN appearance that he could be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the UN General Assembly in New York.

The possibility of renewed negotiations comes against the backdrop of continuing military and diplomatic tensions between the two countries.