Saudi regime involved in attack on Qatif mosque: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed Ali al-Ahmed, the director of the Institute for (Persian) Gulf Affairs from Washington, to get his take on a recent bomb attack on a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province as well as Riyadh’s ongoing military aggression against neighboring Yemen.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Why is it that the attacks on Shia mosques and gatherings are increasing?

Al-Ahmed: Well, you have to understand that the Saudi government has been funding and supporting anti-Shia terrorist groups in the Middle East in the past 25 years at least. So this is a direct result of the Saudi government’s policy. But especially this attack is not an indirect attack; this is an attack that was launched by the Saudi government. If you go back early before the Saudi war against Yemen, there was a double…attack against two Sana’a mosques. This is very similar. This is the Saudi government.

There is something called the special office of Mohammad bin Nayef, the minister of interior, who carried out and planned these attacks. And this terrorist who [launched] the attack today in Qatif was detained and re-educated by Mohammad bin Nayef’s center for educating or rehabilitation to redirect his terrorist attack against Shia targets. So this is a crime. I put my credibility on the line here. This is a crime that was committed by the Saudi government. The world should listen to this and should start investigating the Saudi government’s role in funding the terrorism. The United Nations Security Council should take responsibility, should adhere to its Charter, and initiate an international inspection of the Saudi terrorism networks and industry.

Press TV: Now, focusing on the situation in Yemen itself. How much do you think the Ansarullah movement is advancing against the Saudis?

Al-Ahmed: Well, it is very clearly that 60 days of bombardment, more bombardment than any country in the Middle East has witnessed, the Ansarullah movement and the popular committees in Yemen are gaining ground. They could have gain greater ground faster if these Saudi-led attacks were not killing and destroying and hindering them. So, clearly, we can see that they are doing this. They have taken some Saudi territories last night. And I expect more the strategy of going after Saudi Arabia. I think it is very successful way of pushing back the Saudi monarchy’s attacks. 

Press TV: And how optimistic are you about the Geneva talks on Yemen?

Al-Ahmed: I am not very optimistic because the United Nations secretary general does not have any authority to implement or to force anybody. It is the United Nations Security Council that has that authority. So without their support, the authorities and a new resolution on Yemen forcing the Saudis to stop the war, I think the Geneva talks will be empty.

ABN/MKA

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