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AS IT IS 2016-01-16 Arab League Backs Saudi in Dispute with Iran 阿拉伯联盟支持沙特 谴责伊朗未保护沙特使馆

Arab League foreign ministers said they support Saudi Arabia in its dispute with Iran.

Tensions increased after Saudi Arabia executed a top Iranian Shi’ite Muslim religious leader January 2.

Demonstrators attacked and burned parts of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and in other countries after Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was executed with 46 others. 

Eight Arab countries have weakened or ended diplomatic relations with Iran because of the attacks.

The foreign ministers and diplomats¹ gathered Sunday in Cairo. 

They applauded when United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ben Zayid strongly criticized Iran during the meeting.

He said Iran uses religion to cause tensions between countries in the Middle East and inside Arab countries. He said Iran creates and supports terrorist groups that spread violence in the Middle East.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said Iran helps people in Arab countries work against their governments. He said Iran should “stop interfering² in (the) internal affairs” of its neighbors.

He said Saudi Arabia does not want conflict between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims. He accused Iran of worsening tensions between the two groups after its revolution in 1979. And, he said Saudi Arabia opposes the creation of tension between the groups.

Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the attack on the Saudi Embassy “wrong and against the law.” He also said the execution of al-Nimr was a crime. Al-Nimr had publicly criticized the Saudi royal family.

Nabil El Arabi leads the Arab League. He said Iran can reduce tensions with its neighbors. He said Iran must take steps to show it wants to improve relations and not interfere³ in the governing of other countries.

Hilal Kashan is a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut. He told VOA the Arab League meeting will probably not produce any results.

He said, “the Saudis simply wanted a statement of solidarity⁴ (from the Arab League) and they got it. They did not really ask for more or expect more.” He notes that Iran suspended some police officials in Tehran after the Saudi embassy was attacked.

Pakistan also ended diplomatic relations with Iran after the embassy attack. Saudi Arabia wants Pakistan’s support in its dispute with Iran. But Pakistan has large numbers of Sunnis and Shi’ites and must have good relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Time magazine reported that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has suggested that Pakistan could help Saudi Arabia and Iran negotiate an end to their conflict.

Words in This Story

applaud – v. to strike the hands together over and over to show approval or praise

internal affairs – n. events that take place inside a country

solidarity – n. a feeling of unity⁵ between people who have the same interests, goals, etc.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 interfering   

adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词

参考例句：

• He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事！
• I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预，让我自己拿主意。

3 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

4 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。