The Middle East region has continued to be `hot` in recent days with new tense developments in relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Riyadh accusing Tehran of `direct military aggression`.
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This tension has made the international community concerned about the risk of a conflict and pushing Gulf security to the `red` limit.
Risk of escalation of tension
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has just rejected Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s accusation that Tehran `committed direct military aggression` against the kingdom, asserting this is a `false and dangerous` statement.
Previously, Crown Prince Salman accused Iran of `direct military aggression` against Saudi Arabia through providing missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry later denied the coalition force’s accusation that Tehran was behind this missile attack.
Faced with new tense developments in bilateral relations, Iran has called on Saudi Arabia to stop its hostile policies against Tehran, warning of negative consequences affecting regional stability.
Iranian President Rouhani added that the common goal of countries in the region is to establish and promote stability, maintain the status quo of geographical borders, ensure that countries have the right to self-determination and end wars.
In addition, President Rouhani condemned the coalition led by Saudi Arabia for military intervention in Yemen to fight Houthi rebels since March 2015, causing a deadly war in this neighboring Middle Eastern country.
The Iranian President highlighted Iran’s power and influential role in the region, and rejected accusations that Tehran interfered in regional countries, saying that these arguments were made in the context of
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The international community is concerned
Faced with tense developments in relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the international community has expressed concern.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed to protect national interests amid increasing regional tensions.
Meanwhile, EU High Representative in charge of security and foreign policy Federica Mogherini warned that the increasing tension between Iran, Saudi Arabia and their allies is `extremely dangerous`.
On November 10, French President Emmanuel Macron went to Riyadh to discuss with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman about political tensions in Lebanon and the crisis in Yemen, two focal points of the competition for regional influence.
Dangerous confrontation
The tense relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia has been smoldering for a long time, due to conflicts in religious beliefs as well as approaches to many international issues.
In terms of religion, the majority of Iranians follow Shiite Islam, while the majority of Saudi Arabians follow Sunni Islam.
On the Syrian battlefield, Saudi Arabia supports rebels fighting against Iran’s ally, Syrian President al-Assad.
Saudi Arabia has also criticized the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 Group (including Britain, France, Russia, China, the US and Germany) to end economic sanctions on Tehran.
The relationship between the two sides became even more tense after on January 2, 2015, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people accused of terrorism-related crimes, including Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Analysts worry that it will `add fuel to the fire` when Saudi Arabia and Iran increase confrontation in the region.
According to T. Lam- A. Phuong
Law of Vietnam
