Gulf states may be covertly encouraging attacks by US, Iran foreign minister says

Abbas Araghchi was responding to US media reports that Mohammed bin Salman’s public opposition to US attacks did not reflect his private position. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

Some Gulf states hosting US forces may be covertly encouraging the slaughter of Iranians, Iran’s foreign minister has claimed in a thinly-veiled attack on Saudi Arabia.

Abbas Araghchi demanded clarification on reports that Mohammed bin Salman was in regular private conversations with Donald Trump, urging the US president “to continue hitting the Iranians hard”.