Prince Turki says Arab disunity benefiting Tehran

Riyadh: Prince Turki Al Faisal, chairman of the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, said that disunity and differences of opinion among the Arabs are the major factors behind the growing clout of Iran in the region.

"Iran is emerging stronger at the expense of Arab interests," he warned while describing "Iran as a paper tiger with claws of steel". Prince Turki made these remarks during a dialogue meet at the Strategic Studies Centre of the Jordan University in Amman on Saturday.

Several former ministers and thinkers from Jordan were also present. Prince Turki Al Faisal, who is Saudi Arabia's former ambassador to the United States and Britain, accused Washington of presenting Iraq to Iran on a platter.

Prince Turki, who is also a former intelligence chief, said Iran's political regime is frail but has strong tools that enable it to achieve its "expansionist aspirations at the expense of Arab interests".

"Saudi Arabia was able to play a significant role, though it is limited, in bringing security and stability back to Iraq," he said in comments carried by Arabic dailies in Saudi Arabia.

He emphasised the role of Egypt and Syria in joint Arab work.