DUBAI, Nov 9 (Reuters) – Iran’s intelligence minister told his regional rival Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that there are no guarantees Tehran will continue its “strategic patience”, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
“Until now, Iran has adopted strategic patience with firm reason, but it cannot guarantee that it will not be exhausted if hostilities continue,” Fars Esmail quoted Khatib as saying.
“If Iran decides to retaliate and punish, glass palaces will crumble and these countries will no longer experience stability.”
Iran has accused foreign enemies of fomenting unrest that has raged since the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody in September after she was arrested for allegedly flouting the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.
The protests by Iranians from all walks of life have become one of the greatest challenges facing Iran’s spiritual leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Last month Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami warned Saudi Arabia to control its media.
“I warn the Saudi ruling family… Watch your behavior and control this media… or you will pay the price.” This is our final warning because you are interfering in our affairs of state through these media. We told you: be careful,” Salami said, according to Iranian state media.
Last week, Iran denied it posed a threat to Saudi Arabia after The Wall Street Journal reported that Riyadh had shared information with the United States warning of an impending Iranian attack on targets in the kingdom.
Reporting from the Dubai Newsroom editorial board by Mark Heinrich and Jonathan Oatis
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