SAUDI Arabia has vowed to take on extremism and return to a more moderate form of Islam.
The Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today promised Saudi Arabi will become a more “open” society and return to “what we were before”.
He also hit out at Iran, accusing them of promoting extremism, making constructive dialogue in the region unlikely.
The Crown Prince’s comments came after it was revealed women will finally be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.
He said today: “We are returning to what we were before – a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world.
“We will not spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing with destructive ideas. We will destroy them today.
“We will end extremism very soon.”
However, rather than being simply a promise to row back on the more conservative aspects of life in Saudi Arabia, this declaration is more likely just the latest statement in a war of words with Iran.
He said dialogue with Saudi Arabia’s was becoming increasingly unlikely given what he said was a lax, or even encouraging, attitude towards extremism.
He said Iran was attempting to rule the Islamic word, including those Muslims living outside the country in other states across the Middle East.
The Crown Prince said: “How can I come to an understanding with someone, or a regime, that has an anchoring belief built on an extremist ideology?
“Iranian regime is to reach the focal point of Muslims and we will not wait until the fight is inside Saudi Arabia and we will work so that the battle is on their side, inside Iran, not in Saudi Arabia.”
It comes amid increasing tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, after diplomatic relations were officially cut last year.
In 2016 Iranian protestors attacked the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran after a high-profile Sunni cleric was executed in Saudi Arabia.
Iran declared “divine vengeance” would be delivered to Saudi Arabia, who themselves said Iran was creating terrorist cells.