, Columnist
Iran and Saudi Arabia Clash Inside Syria Talks
It's hard for two countries to make nice in Vienna while they're at war in Syria.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, speaking in Bahrain.
Photographer: MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH/AFP/Getty ImagesIran and Saudi Arabia clashed repeatedly last week inside the diplomatic talks on Syria, with Iran accusing Saudis of terrorism. Their tension threatened to end the new negotiations just as they began in Vienna on Friday.
Inside the nine-hour meeting, according to two Western officials briefed on it, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir got into a heated argument, during which Zarif blamed Saudi Arabian nationals for the 9/11 attacks. The comments startled the participants, who included Secretary of State John Kerry, and the room went quiet after Zarif’s remark.