Saudi Arabia hails China's mediation offer, but described Iran as "hopeless case"

Saudi Ambassador to China Turki ben Mohamad al Madi welcomed China's preparedness to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran to end their dispute, saying, however, that Iran is a "hopeless case."

In statements to the Chinese news agency Xinhua on Thursday, the Saudi envoy hailed the Chinese efforts to realize peace in the Middle East.

He added that "any state seeks to be on good terms with its neighbors, but Iran is a hopeless case."

He said Saudi Arabia cannot deal with Iran on any basis or under any mediation.

He said Iran tries to threaten social peace in Bahrain and had interfered in Yemen, Syria and Iraq and even reached Lebanon.

The Chinese foreign minister said in a press conference on Wednesday that China is ready to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia if the two countries approve. 

In 2015, a political row between Iran and Saudi Arabia surfaced on the back of attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran and Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shia cleric over terror charges.

The dispute ended up with cutting off diplomatic ties.

Source: MENA