Iran Has ‘No Problem’ with Saudis Despite US Probe

Posted October 22nd, 2011 at 3:30 am (UTC-5)
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country has “no problem” with Saudi Arabia.

He commented in a Saturday interview with CNN, following U.S. charges that Tehran's elite military unit had a role in an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States.

A U.S. grand jury has indicted two Iranian men who are accused of being involved in the alleged plot against Saudi envoy Adel al-Jubeir. The U.S. says one suspect is a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds force.

Mr. Ahmadinejad told CNN that Iran has never had intentions of hurting Saudi Arabia.

In the wide-ranging interview, the Iranian leader also had harsh criticism for the U.S. and other Western powers involved in the NATO mission in Libya. He said NATO's air campaign had exacerbated the conflict in the country.

He also cautioned against foreign interference in the opposition movement in Syria. Damascus is widely considered Tehran's strongest regional ally.

President Ahmadinejad said the U.S. had become “weaker” and was “hated” in the Middle East region.