Iraq Crisis: Britain and US Must Not Meddle in Iraq, Warns Saudi Arabia

Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Saudi Arabia will oppose any US and British or regional intervention in Iraq against the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, the country's ambassador to London tells the Telegraph

In an article for the Telegraph, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf al-Saud said the crisis in Saudi Arabia's northern neighbour should be sorted out between Iraqis alone as it was a product of the sectarian divisions in Iraq.

As Washington considers an Iraqi request to undertake air strikes against ISIS, which has seized a swathe of the north including Mosul, the second city, Prince Mohammed signalled that Saudi Arabia was implacably opposed to any new military intervention.

His comments can also be read as a firm statement against Iranian involvement in the Iraqi fightback. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's special forces, has been reported active in Iraq assisting Shia Muslim militias.

"We oppose all foreign intervention and interference. There must be no meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs, not by us or by the US, the UK or by any other government. This is Iraq’s problem and they must sort it out themselves," Prince Mohammed wrote.

"Any government that meddles in Iraq’s affairs runs the risk of escalating the situation, creating greater mistrust between the people of Iraq – both Sunni and Shia." » | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Thursday, June 19, 2014

US Citizen Manssor Arbabsiar Pleads Not Guilty Over Alleged Saudi Bomb Plot

THE GUARDIAN: Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old US citizen with an Iranian passport, pleads not guilty to five-count indictment in New York

A man charged in a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States has pleaded not guilty in court in New York. » | Associated Press | Monday, October 24, 2011

Iran Calls Saudi Ambassador Assassination Allegations an 'Evil Plot'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Iran called US allegations of a plan to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington an "evil plot" by the United States, in a complaint sent to the United Nations.

Iran's US ambassador accused Israel of carrying out the murders of Iranian nuclear scientists with US support, in a letter sent to UN leader Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council.

"Iran categorically and in the strongest terms condemns this shameful allegation by the United States authorities and deplores it as a well-thought evil plot in line with their anti-Iranian policy," Mohammad Khazaee said in the letter.

US authorities said earlier they had uncovered a plot by the Iranian government to assassinate the Saudi envoy to Washington, Adel al-Jubeir. The US administration has vowed to hold Iran to account.

Two men have been charged with conspiring with Iranian government factions to stage the attack and one is in US custody.

Mr Khazaee expressed "outrage" over the allegations in his letter. » | Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Profligate Saudi Prince
Photo of Saudi ambassador Prince Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdul Aziz courtesy of The Guardian
THE GUARDIAN: It is a remarkable shopping list by any standards. And it has landed the Saudi ambassador to Britain with a possible £3m debt, and the embarrassment of having allegations about the ostentatious spending habits of the royal family laid bare.

Bills he is claimed to have run up on an array of luxury amusements include two top-of-the-range Chevrolet 4x4s, a thermal night vision kit for his Hummer H2, dozens of designer watches and jewels, a selection of handguns and two Arab karaoke machines. One takeaway meal came to almost $800 (£391). And then there is the $2,500 item on a trip to a hotel in Casablanca that reads: "Girls: party night 5".

These, and scores of others, are detailed in documents filed to the high court in a claim against the ambassador, Prince Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdul Aziz, a nephew of King Abdullah. Hey big spender: the £3m spree that landed a Saudi prince in a London court (more) By David Leigh and Rob Evans

Court documents: the alleged debts in full (pdf)

More court documents (pdf)

Mark Alexander