Saudis Called ‘Ready for War’ Against Iran

Saudi Arabia disclosed through one of its most highly placed sources today that it is “greatly tempted” to break diplomatic relations with Tehran and, if necessary, to go to war with Iran.

“We’re telling the Iranians to put up or shut up,” said the Saudi source, who declined to be identified. “Right now, they’re opting to duck.”

In a wide-ranging 3 1/2-hour interview with foreign journalists, the source described the kingdom’s policy toward Iran as “a diplomatic offensive and a maximum military alert.”

He also said his nation’s policy toward Iran is fully supported by Saudi citizens.

“I have never seen the mood in this country uglier,” he said. “A week ago people were ready for war if necessary.”

The source said public disclosure of the Saudi hard-line was prompted by genuine outrage in the nation and throughout the Muslim world over the July 31 Mecca rioting that killed more than 400 people at Islam’s most sacred shrine.

Saudi Arabia blamed the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his Iranian Revolutionary Guards for the rioting. The source said the Saudi government fully understood the possible consequences of publicly blaming Iran for the Mecca tragedy.

“We expected the reaction to be war,” he said. “They backed down.”

Speaking in American idiom, the source said the Saudis intercepted Iranian military communications in which “their headquarters was telling them to cool it.”

“My personal expectation, based on their rhetoric, was that they would attack Jubail (on the Persian Gulf) or some place, or attack our ships. But they backed down,” he said.

Asked if Riyadh would break relations with Iran and pull its remaining 11 diplomats out of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, the source said “we’re greatly tempted.”