Saudi Arabia blocks Iran from OIC meeting

According to Iranian foreign ministry, the Jeddah meeting will discuss Trump's Middle East peace plan on Monday

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has barred an Iranian delegation from an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Jeddah on Monday where US President Donald Trump's  Middle East peace plan will be discussed, the Iranian foreign ministry said.

"The government of Saudi Arabia has prevented the participation of the Iranian delegation in the meeting to examine the 'deal of the century' plan at the headquarters of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation," ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi said, according to Fars news agency.

There was no immediate comment from Saudi officials.

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President Trump on Tuesday proposed the creation of a Palestinian state with a capital on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

While criticising the the controversial move, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: “I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass.”

“And on this day, you [Trump] too have charted a brilliant future, a brilliant future for Israelis, Palestinians and the region, by presenting a realistic path to a durable peace,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while praising the US president’s announcement.

“I know that there’ll be opposition. There’s always opposition. I know there will be many obstacles along the way, much criticism. But we have an old Jewish saying: ‘If not now, when? And if not us, who?’”