Al-Jubeir Says No Back Channels With Iran
February 20, 2020, 10:15 am

Al-Jubeir Says No Back Channels With Iran

Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir called on Iran to respect international norms, stop financing terrorism and to commit to principles of good neighborliness with the Gulf states.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Riyadh after meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, Jubeir stressed there were no back channels between Saudi Arabia and Iran, adding that the Kingdom’s stance on Tehran is clear.

“There is no back channel with Iran because our position with regards to Iran is very clear. I just said it to you publicly. What we want Iran to abide by the rules … we want Iran to respect international law, we want Iran to respect the sovereignty of other countries,” Jubeir was quoted by al-Arabiya Channel.

Meanwhile, Jubeir indicated that his talks with the visiting FM touched on the Yemeni crisis. They discussed bilateral relations and cooperation, ways to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemen, and regional and international issues of common concern.

Jubeir noted that Norway is one of the largest countries supporting Yemen, and stressed the need to support the mission of the UN envoy Martin Griffiths to reach a political settlement and open a humanitarian corridor for aid delivery.

He also highlighted the US peace plan in the Middle East, stressing that Riyadh is committed to supporting the Palestinian decision because Palestinians will determine whether this agreement can be accepted or not.

Jubair said that since the era of King Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s position has been to support the Palestinian choice. He added that the Kingdom can provide assistance and advice, but the decision is for the Palestinians and only they can determine whether the offer meets their expectations or not.

He concluded that Saudi Arabia will support Palestine, which is also the position of most Arab and Islamic states.

Turkish soldiers fire a missile at Syrian government position in the province of Idlib on Feb. 14, 2020. (AP) Iran: Parliamentary elections or spark to end of 41 years of tyranny!

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”