Saudi Journalist Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News: IRGC Attacks on Civilian Targets in the Gulf States Contradict Peaceful Assurances by Iranian Diplomatic and Political Leadership; They Have a New Leader - a Political Vacuum Is No Longer a Justifiable Pretext

Saudi journalist Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, said on a March 15, 2026 show on Russia Today TV that there is a disparity between Iranian diplomatic and political leadership’s statements that they seek good neighborly relations and IRGC actions targeting Gulf states.

“Saudi journalist Faisal J”

MEMRI

He said that President Pezeshkian stated they want to keep the Gulf states out of the conflict, but that good neighborly relations are not established by striking civilian targets.

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Abbas said that during the period between the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the appointment of his successor Mojtaba Khamenei, the IRGC "went wild" by attacking Gulf countries in defiance of Pezeshkian and Ali Khamenei’s stated vision, and that it struck civilian targets.

He said Iranian politicians claim they only strike military targets, but that this is not the reality.

He stated that the IRGC violated the Beijing Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and that even Iran’s closest friends, including the Omanis, were not safe from it.

He added that the Omani Sultan was the first to congratulate Mojtaba Khamenei, yet he was targeted the following day.

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Abbas said that claims that all this was due to a leadership vacuum can no longer be used as pretext, now that there is a new Supreme Leader.

“Saudi journalist Faisal J”

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He said that Mojtaba Khamenei must settle this disparity.

He added that insisting on uranium enrichment was a big strategic mistake on the part of Iran, Iran’s biggest strategic mistake.

He explained that Iran cannot convince anyone its nuclear program is peaceful, because enrichment is not needed for a peaceful program, and it is not worth the destruction Iran is now experiencing.

MEMRI