Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit urged the United Nations on Sunday to prevent Iran from pushing the region to the “edge of an abyss,” saying that the missile recently fired from Yemen into Saudi Arabia represents an act of hostility against all Arab countries. "Iran has adopted a sectarian policy and empowered itself with the nuclear deal [signed in 2015 between Tehran and several world powers]," said Aboul Gheit during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo convened after a request made last week by Saudi Arabia. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed Cairo's rejection of any kind of foreign intervention or attempts to destabilise the security of Arab countries. The Egyptian FM also called for strong and clear actions to defuse tensions in the region. "Egypt rejects any form of foreign presence on Arab soil, whether in the form of military bases, local parties with foreign loyalties, or support for terrorist organisations," Shoukry added. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that his country will not stand idle or hesitate in defending its people and national security. "Any leniency in dealing with [Tehran's] policies would only encourage Iran towards more aggressions, so we must stand together," Jubeir said. "Iran's aggressive policies have pushed the international community to classify it as the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world," the Saudi foreign minister added. Al-Jubier also called on all Arab countries to adopt firm stances to preserve Arab national security, safety and prosperity. The Arab League meeting comes amid rising tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran over accusations that Tehran interferes in the internal affairs of some Arab countries. On 4 November, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri resigned while in Riyadh over what he described as Iranian interference in his country and direct threats to his life. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman has accused Iran of "direct military aggression" against the kingdom by supplying the Yemeni rebels with ballistic missiles, but Tehran has denied any involvement. Saudi Arabia has also accused Hezbollah involvement in the attack on Saudi Arabia from Yemen.
