US Defense Secretary, James Mattis, has repeated his anti-Iran claims in his visit to Saudi Arabia.
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Known as "Mad Dog," the 66-year retired general held talks with members of the Saudi royal family during his second day in the capital Riyadh on Wednesday to relay US President Donald Trump's praise for the kingdom.
"It's good to be back," he told Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at al-Yamama Palace.
Mattis, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, also met with the Saudi defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after the king.
"It is in our interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia," he told the Saudi military chief, referencing the country's "military security services and secret services."
He further asserted that his presence in Saudi Arabia could pave the way for a Trump visit to the monarchy, a long-time US ally in the Middle East.
"What we can do here today could actually open the door possibly to bringing our president to Saudi Arabia," Mattis said.
Mattis also repeated the Trump administration’s claims that Tehran aims to “destabilize” the region.
This is while Washington has itself been a staunch supporter of “Takfiri-Wahhabi terrorists,” according to Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan. An unnamed US defense official speaking to Reuters said Mattis is in Saudi to see “what are their priorities."
The Trump administration’s anti-Iran rhetoric reflects the New York businessman’s long-held grudge for former President Barack Obama, who threw his support behind talks between Iran and the world powers, which finally yielded a nuclear deal, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015.
The successful outcome of Iran talks then made Saudi Arabia feel “marginalized," according to the US official.
