Rouhani: Saudi desire for ties with Israel led to Trump’s Jerusalem recognition

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says the only reason Donald Trump “dared” recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was because some in the region sought to establish ties to Israel.

Rouhani’s comments on Wednesday came during the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation following Trump’s decision. His comments were a stab at Iran’s archrival Saudi Arabia, referencing reports the Gulf kingdom has sought closer cooperation with Israel to counter Iran’s influence in the region. Saudi Arabia has condemned Trump’s decision in a rare public rebuke of Washington.

Rouhani also said the US has never been an honest mediator.

He said in an English tweet earlier that the US decision “is only seeking to secure the maximum interests of the Zionists and has no respect for the legitimate rights of Palestinians.”

— AP