Iran will 'defend itself against any foreign threat', Araghchi tells Saudi FM

Iran will defend itself "against any foreign threat," the country's foreign minister told his Saudi counterpart Thursday, as Washington refuses to rule out military strikes over the Iranian crackdown on protesters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in telephone talks of the importance of "global condemnation of foreign interference in the internal affairs of regional countries", according to a statement on his Telegram channel.

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The Saudi Press Agency confirmed the talks, saying "they discussed developments in the region and how to enhance its security and stability". Two sources told AFP earlier that Saudi Arabia informed Iran it will not allow its airspace or territory to be used to attack it, as Washington threatens Tehran with possible military strikes.

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The message was conveyed as the United States warned it could respond to an Iranian government crackdown on protests, while Tehran has said it would strike US military and shipping assets in the event of a new attack.

"Saudi Arabia has informed Tehran directly that it will not be part of any military action taken against it, and that its territory and airspace will not be used for that purpose," a source close to the Saudi military told AFP.

Crackdown on protesters

Iran's judiciary said a protester, who the United States and rights groups feared faced imminent execution would not be sentenced to death, after Trump had warned of strikes should people arrested for demonstrating be killed.

The protests were sparked by economic grievances but evolved rapidly into a nationwide movement that has constituted the greatest threat to the Islamic republic since its inception in 1979.

Rights groups say the crackdown by authorities, who exercise zero tolerance for dissent, has left at least 3,428 people dead. They also accuse the country's theocratic leaders of using an internet blackout to cover up the brutality of their crackdown.

In telephone talks on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan of the importance of "global condemnation of foreign interference in the internal affairs of regional countries".

The developments came hours ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Iran later on Thursday, which was requested by the US.