Iran says Saudi Arabia should move to curb oil price fall

Tehran, Jan 3, IRNA -- Falling world oil prices will hurt countries across the Middle East unless Saudi Arabia, the worldˈs biggest crude exporter, takes action to reverse the slump, Iranˈs deputy foreign minister told Reuters. Hossein Amir Abdollahian described Saudi Arabiaˈs inaction in the face of a six-month slide in oil prices as a strategic mistake and said he still hoped the kingdom would respond. Oil prices closed on Wednesday at a 5-1/2 year low, registering their second-biggest ever annual decline after OPEC oil exporters, led by Saudi Arabia, chose to maintain oil output despite a global glut and calls from some of the organizationˈs members - including Iran and Venezuela - to cut production. ˈThere are several reasons for the drop of the price of oil but Saudi Arabia can take a step to have a productive role in this situation,ˈ Abdollahian said. ˈIf Saudi does not help prevent the decrease in oil price ... this is a serious mistake that will have a negative result on all countries in the region,ˈ Abdollahian said in an exclusive interview on Wednesday evening. Abdollahian said Iran would have more discussions with Saudi Arabia about the oil price, both through oil officials at OPEC and through the foreign ministry. He did not give specific details on when any meeting might take place. Saudi Arabia said last month that it would not cut output to prop up oil markets even if non-OPEC nations did so. The Iranian deputy minister also criticized Saudi military involvement in Bahrain, which has been gripped by tension since 2011 protests led by majority Shiˈite Muslims demanding reforms and a bigger role in running the Sunni-ruled country. Abdollahian said Bahraini authoritiesˈ continued detention of Shiˈite opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman would have ˈserious consequencesˈ for the government there. U.S. ˈNOT ACTINGˈ AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE Abdollahian dismissed United States efforts to fight Islamic State, also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh, as a ploy to advance U.S. policies in the region. ˈThe reality is that the United States is not acting to eliminate Daesh. They are not even interested in weakening Daesh, they are only interested in managing it,ˈ he said. ˈOn the ground, where the U.S. should take serious action, there are no serious actions taking place. The US is not doing anything,ˈ he said, accusing Washington of pursing a contradictory policy towards Islamist militants. ˈOne day they support Daesh, another day they are against terrorism,ˈ he said. Abdollahian reaffirmed Iranˈs commitment to Assad, saying the Syrian president must be involved in any political transition aimed at ending more than three years of conflict. He also criticized the latest U.S. sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities, saying they would not have a good impact on Tehranˈs talks with world powers over its disputed nuclear program. ˈThe United States must know that these actions make them bear a greater responsibility should the negotiations fail,ˈ he said. ˈIf the other side is honest in their actions, then we should expect these talks to reach a desirable conclusion.ˈ/end