Iran’s policy ‘destabilising’, Hezbollah ‘hegemony’ must end, says Saudi Arabia’s king

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz said on Wednesday in an address to the kingdom’s advisory Shura Council that he hoped Iran would change its “negative” behaviour in the region and choose dialogue and cooperation.

“We follow with concern the Iranian government’s policy which is destabilising regional security and stability, including building and backing sectarian armed militias and propagating its military power in other countries,” the 85-old ruler said in a speech published by state news agency SPA.

Saudi officials said the crisis with Beirut has its origins in a Lebanese political setup that reinforces the dominance of the Hezbollah armed group.