Daily Times

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Sunday accused regional rival Iran of exporting extremist movements to the world and vowed to eliminate the Islamic State group.

“Our responsibility before God and our people and the whole world is to stand united to fight the forces of evil and extremism wherever they are … The Iranian regime represents the tip of the spear of global terrorism,” King Salman said in a speech to leaders, including US President Donald Trump. “The Iranian regime has been the spearhead of global terrorism since the (Ayatollah Ruhollah) Khomeini revolution” in 1979, he said. “We did not know terrorism and extremism until the Khomeini revolution reared its head,” he said.

The king also said in the televised speech that Saudi Arabia would not be lenient in trying anyone who finances terrorism. “We will never be lenient in trying anyone who finances terrorism, in any way or means, to the full force of the law.” Saudi Arabia was also determined to “eliminate the Islamic State group”, the king said of the organisation.