Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will use all options against Iran'

Turki al-Faisal addressing the conference on national and regional security in Manama, Bahrain, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221771.html

Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief says Riyadh will use “all available options” to defend itself against Iranian “threats” that might trigger “unwanted military confrontation.”

Addressing a conference on national and regional security in Manama, Bahrain, Turki al-Faisal said, “Any threat to our interests or security will force us to use all available options to defend our interests, and national and regional security.”

His remarks came after Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi urged Riyadh on Tuesday to reconsider plans to compensate for any shortfall in the market caused by West-backed sanctions against Iranian oil exports.

Iran's OPEC Governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi also warned the country's Persian Gulf neighbors last Sunday that they will be responsible for any consequences, should they agree to compensate for the Islamic Republic's oil exports in the event of Western sanctions against Tehran.

“The mounting escalation and persistent tensions might end up in an adventure with unpredictable consequences or in an unwanted military confrontation,” AFP quoted Faisal as saying.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington over the Strait of Hormuz have been escalating since the US and the European Union proposed sanctions against Iran's oil sector to deprive the country of its oil exports.

Iranian officials have warned that if Tehran is prevented from exporting crude oil through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, it may take measures, including closing the strategic Strait.

“Iran must not fuel this conflict and must not threaten us when we commit to international decisions,” Faisal added.

The former Saudi intelligence minister stated that Iran “must neutralize the security of the Strait of Hormuz and that of the world energy supply.”

“[Iran] has chosen a different policy that constantly undermines regional security and provokes foreign interventions, which it claims it is trying to get rid of,” the Saudi official accused.