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Former Iran FM warns of continued Iran-Saudi tensions

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iran's first foreign minister after the 1979 Islamic Revolution talked about the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the Rouhani administration and the lack of respect for the law within the country.
Ebrahim Yazdi, secretary-general and chairman of Central Council Freedom Movement of Iran, speaks during an interview at his home in northern Tehran June 15, 2009. Iranian opposition politician Yazdi has been released from jail a day after he was detained while in hospital, a source close to him said on June 19, 2009. Yazdi, who heads the banned Freedom Movement, was one of scores of reformist activists detained since Iran's disputed June 12 presidential election. Picture taken June 15, 2009. REUTERS/Mortez

Ebrahim Yazdi, Iran's first foreign minister after the 1979 Revolution, talked about his concerns regarding the continuous hostility between Iran and Saudi Arabia in an exclusive phone interview with Al-Monitor. He said, "If this hostility continues, it will create chaos and insecurity for all the countries in the region and will increase the likelihood of a military confrontation and secession in the region. It will not be beneficial for any country in the region.”

Yazdi, who is the secretary-general of the Freedom Movement of Iran (Nehzat-e Azadi-e Iran), has been repeatedly arrested for criticizing the Iranian government. He was detained after the 2009 contested elections and again in 2010 for his political activities. In May 2011, he wrote a letter to Tunisian leader Rached Ghannouchi, urging him to learn from Iran’s mistakes and respect diversity and plurality.

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