Saudi FM criticises Iran during Gulf Arab summit

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says Iran is playing a "negative role" in the region as a Gulf summit on political solutions to wars in Yemen and Syria drew to a close in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters Thursday that Iran had a negative influence on "most regional issues." He said he had met his Iranian counterpart for only "a few minutes" at the sidelines of a Vienna meeting last month to discuss ways to end the war in Syria.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are backing opposite sides of the nearly five year conflict.

Leaders from Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and a senior royal official from Oman took part in the summit.