Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal: Iran Has Occupying Forces in Syria

During an October 13 joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Jeddah, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal stated that Bashar Al-Assad is part of the problem and cannot be part of the solution. He accused Iran of having "occupying forces" in Syria.

Saud Al-Faisal: We have no reservations regarding Iran as a country or regarding the Iranian citizens. Our reservations have to do with Iran's policies in the region. In many of these conflicts, Iran is part of the problem and not of the solution. In Syria, for example, Iran has forces. Who are these forces fighting in Syria? The Syrians. Is it conceivable that a foreign country joins a civil war, siding with (one camp), and actually fighting against a section of the people? Under these circumstances, one can say that the Iranians are an occupying force in Syria. The Syrian regime, which invited the Iranian forces to help it, has lost its legitimacy, and can no longer represent the Syrian people. Thus, the Iranian forces came of their own accord.

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Bashar Al-Assad cannot be trusted. He cannot be part of the solution because he has lost his legitimacy.