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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iranian President Rouhani calls for Middle East 'dialogue'
2017-12-04
[DAWN] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that Middle Eastern countries should solve their problems together without relying on external powers.

"We believe that if there is a problem in the region, it can be solved through dialogue," Rouhani said in a speech at the inauguration of the Chabahar port's first phase, broadcast by state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
"We do not need arms nor the intervention of foreign powers. We can solve our problems ourselves through unity and dialogue."

Rouhani's comments follow an escalation in the bitter rivalry between Iran and Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
The two powers back opposing groups throughout the region ─ notably in Syria and Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
─ and Saudi leaders have lately stepped up efforts to counter Iran's growing influence, raising fears of further conflict.

But Rouhani said recent victories against the murderous Moslem Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group opened the way for the Middle East to move past its reputation for "war and conflict between Shiite and Sunni... and the presence and interventions of foreign powers".

Saudi Arabia and Iran's critics in the West have accused Tehran of seeking to dominate the region at the expense of its neighbours.

Rouhani said: "No country can claim to be the superior power in this region. Just as the superpowers couldn't accomplish that either."
Posted by:Fred

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