Iran’s terrorism in the New York Times

Salman al-Dossary – in Asharq Al-Awsat – states that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s recent political essay published in The New York Times – which claimed that Saudi Arabia is the reason behind all humanity’s suffering – raised a few eyebrows.

The writer argues that “centuries-old assumptions cannot deny the modern-day facts that Saudi Arabia has suffered most of terror’s viscous attacks.”

“Alternatively, Iran has not been targeted once by any of today’s prominent terror organizations—despite the hate talk ISIS-styled organizations direct against Tehran,” the writer points out.

“The Lebanon-based militant group, Hezbollah, is publicly funded and armed by Iran—not to mention that the latter is officially accused, since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, by members of the international community of funding, providing equipment, weapons, training and giving sanctuary to terrorists,” the writer adds, mentioning that the United States State Department labels Iran as an “active state sponsor of terrorism.”

The writer then explains that “Iran has the only constitution worldwide which clearly states expansionism for a creed.”

“Zarif’s biased article, lacking facts, resorted to exploiting anti-Wahhabbi sentiment to fill the gaps with opinions rather than sharp reality,” the writer argues.

The writer then explains “Iran’s suspicious ties to international terrorism,” mentioning the time when a federal courthouse in New York accused Tehran of involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks and had requested it to pay $ 10.5 billion in compensation to the families of the victims.

The writer then points out that sectarian strife and bigoted language were unheard of and Saudi Arabia or any other Gulf country did not experience a single terror-staged tragedy before Khomeini’s revolution.

The writer concludes by stating: “Perhaps Iran’s Zarif must once again reconsider hard facts before voicing opinions as to who backs terror ideology.”