{"id":644215,"date":"2019-05-30T13:11:50","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T13:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"
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Agence France-Presse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Saudi Arabia is to host two emergency summits later on Thursday to deliberate on Iran tensions.<\/p>\n

The summit is expected to focus on tensions with Iran after recent attacks in the Gulf region for which Tehran was blamed.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, four commercial marine vessels were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and explosive-laden drones attacked two oil pipeline booster stations inside Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

The United States blamed Iran for the attacks, an accusation denied by Tehran.<\/p>\n

On May 18, Saudi King Salman called for leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a U.S.-allied bloc, and the Arab League to meet for the emergency summits in the Saudi holy city of Mecca.<\/p>\n

Qatar said its Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani would represent it in the meetings.<\/p>\n

He would be the highest Qatari official to visit Saudi Arabia since a diplomatic row erupted between the two Gulf neighbours two years ago.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf called the attacks in the energy-rich Gulf \u201ccowardly acts\u2019\u2019 and warned they threaten the global economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese acts should be confronted with all strength and firmness,\u2019\u2019 he told an Islamic conference in the Saudi city of Jeddah.<\/p>\n

The assaults came amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia and Iran are on opposite sides in wars in Syria and Yemen.<\/p>\n

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