Saudi king urges Iran to end ‘negative’ behaviour

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman urged arch-rival Iran on Thursday 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. "We hope (Iran) changes its policy and negative behaviour in the region, and it heads towards dialogue and cooperation," he said, according to the statement.

"We are following with great concern the Iranian regime’s destabilising policy to security and safety in the region." Riyadh and Tehran have been bitter foes for decades, taking opposing sides in a range of regional conflicts, including in Yemen where Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition against Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

The two sides have held several rounds of talks since April aimed at improving relations. King Salman, however, accused Iran of "establishing and supporting" sectarian and armed groups in the region.

"We are also following the Iranian regime’s support of the terrorist Huthi militia, which is prolonging the war in Yemen and exacerbating the humanitarian situation there, as well as threatening the security of the kingdom."

Yemen has been wracked by civil war since 2014 pitting the government -- supported by the Saudi-led coalition -- against the Huthi who control much of the country’s north, including the capital Sanaa.