Iran's Zarif Warns Saudi Arabia's Turki Al-Faisal to Avoid Following in Saddam Hussein's Footsteps

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted former Saudi General Intelligence Directorate (GID) Chief Turki al-Faisal for participating in the annual gathering of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO, also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCR) terrorist group, saying he is going the same path that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein did.

Speaking to reporters upon arrival in Kazakhstan for a ministerial meeting of the Caspian Sea littoral states on Tuesday, Zarif lambasted France for hosting the MKO terrorists' annual gathering.He said every year, a number of infamous political figures from different countries participate in the gathering giving a speech.

"These people have visible records. People like Bolton and Gingrich have been attending such meetings and supporting the terrorists for years, and it is not a new event and they have always been pursuing the same policy," Zarif said.

"Unfortunately, the presence of a person who is the manufacturer of both the al-Qaeda and the Taliban and has played a highly disgraceful role in the Saudi regime's past actions in the region (Turki al-Faisal) has drawn so much attention from the media which shows his lack of competence and wisdom as he has tied his future to the terrorists like what Saddam Hussein did," he added.