(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Simon Henderson - Saudi crown prince Nayef and Iranian minister of intelligence and security Haydar Moslehi held a surprise meeting in Riyadh this week. The Saudis are concerned about Iran's nuclear program and believe Tehran has malevolent intent in Iraq, where U.S. forces are leaving this month, as well as in Bahrain, where near-daily clashes continue between the island's majority Shiite population and the ruling Sunni monarchy's security forces. Prince Nayef is the Saudi interior minister, giving him control over most of the kingdom's security and intelligence services. Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, who heads the Saudi equivalent of the CIA, was also at the meeting. Nayef is close to members of the Saudi religious establishment and, like them, is deeply suspicious of Shiites in general and Iran in particular.
2011-12-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive