Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Top Iranian official: Gulf states allying with Israel face ‘catastrophic consequences’

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain will suffer “powerful blows” if they ally with Israel against Iran, says former Iranian defense minister.

IRGC Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who formerly served as Iran's Defense Minister and as commander of the IRGC's notorious Quds Force, is interviewed by Iran's Ofogh TV on Nov. 28, 2020. (MEMRI)
IRGC Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who formerly served as Iran’s Defense Minister and as commander of the IRGC’s notorious Quds Force, is interviewed by Iran’s Ofogh TV on Nov. 28, 2020. (MEMRI)

Former Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said in an interview that aired on Wednesday that the Gulf states joining an alliance with Israel would have “catastrophic” consequences.

Vahidi, who is a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, told Russia Today that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain lacked the capability to face Iran.

Therefore, he said, “it is unlikely that they would be so stupid as to join an alliance against us with the Zionist entity.” If they were to join such an alliance, he said, “they will endure very powerful blows.”

“We hope they do not sink any further into the Israeli quagmire because joining such an alliance would bring catastrophic consequences upon them,” he said.

Khalil al-Hayya called on all Palestinian factions to unite for the rebuilding of national institutions on “democratic foundations.”
NGO Monitor looked at 40 major protests—selected based on criteria such as their scale, media visibility and political impact—and identified the organizations that sponsored them.
The Israeli military says it killed players, coaches and a FIFA referee because of their involvement in terrorist activity, rejecting claims it targeted Palestinian sportsmen.
The Israeli premier, invoking the lessons of the Temple’s destruction, says he will seek to form a broad unity government after the election.
But Tehran is not ready yet, because “every time they make a deal they want to change it,” the U.S. president said.
The Islamic Republic is “getting hit so hard” and it will soon be ready to strike a deal, Trump says.