RIYADH, 31 December 2021, (TON): Saudi Arabia's King Salman urged archrival Iran to end its "negative behaviour" in the region, after Riyadh accused Tehran of aiding Yemeni rebels in launching deadly attacks on his country.
However, the monarch who turns 86 on Friday appeared to soften his hawkish tone towards the Islamic republic, after having urged world powers last year to take a "firm stance" against Tehran.
Salman, addressing the Shura council, the top government advisory body, virtually for a second year in a row, spoke for less than four minutes.
He read slowly from a white piece of paper, pausing at times, in a speech broadcast three hours after its initial scheduled time.
The official Saudi Press Agency later released the king's full statement.
He said, according to the statement "we hope (Iran) changes its policy and negative behaviour in the region, and it heads towards dialogue and cooperation.”
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