Saudi Arabia's push for a tough stand against Iran is expected to dominate an Arab League summit on Sunday (April 15th) as regional tensions grow over the wars in Syria and Yemen, AFP reported.
Saudi Arabia, which is hosting the yearly summit in the Eastern Province city of Dhahran, is likely to seek Arab support to pile the pressure on Iran, analysts say.
"The Saudis are going to push for a much harsher stance on Iran […] on Iranian influence in the Arab countries, particularly Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen," said Karim Bitar of the Paris-based Institute of International and Strategic Affairs.
Iran has long been a supporter of the Syrian regime and backs Lebanon’s Hizbullah, whose fighters are deployed in Syria alongside regime forces.
Iran also openly supports the Houthis (Ansarallah) in Yemen, and backs armed groups in Iraq.
"It is definitely safe to say that Iran is the centrepiece of this summit," said Andreas Krieg, assistant professor of defence studies at King's College London.
Delegations from 21 of the Arab League's 22-member states will attend the summit. Syria has been suspended from the organisation for seven years.
Participants are expected to release a statement on the suspected toxic gas attack in Eastern Ghouta.
Meanwhile, the Gulf crisis, which has seen Qatar isolated by Saudi Arabia and its allies, is not on the table for discussion, Riyadh's foreign minister said Thursday.
"The solution of Qatar will be within the GCC," the six-state Gulf Co-operation Council, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said ahead of the Arab Summit.
