Saudi&nbsp;Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz urged the world on Thursday to take "a decisive stance" to address efforts by Iran to develop nuclear and ballistic missile programs, in an annual address to the top government advisory body.

"The kingdom stresses the dangers of Iran's regional project, its interference in other countries, its fostering of terrorism, its fanning the flames of sectarianism and calls for a decisive stance from the international community against Iran that guarantees a drastic handling of its efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction and develop its ballistic missiles programme," the king said.

"This firm stance must guarantee that the Iranian regime is prevented from obtaining weapons of mass destruction, the development of its ballistic missile programme and threatening peace and security," he added in a speech delivered in the early hours.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-enriched-uranium-stockpile-12-times-over-limit-set-in-2015-deal-un-nuclear-agency-342493" hreflang="en">Iran's enriched uranium stockpile 12 times over limit set in 2015 deal</a>

They were the 84-year-old ruler's first public remarks since he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in September via videolink, where he also took aim at Iran.

Sunni Muslim&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia and Shi'ite Iran are locked in a decades-long struggle for influence across the region, supporting opposing sides in conflicts from Syria to Yemen.

Riyadh appears wary of Biden's pledge to revive a 2015 nuclear pact between major powers and Iran, a landmark deal that was negotiated when he served as vice president under Barack Obama.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/we-hope-lesson-has-been-learnt-says-iran-on-nuclear-deal-with-usa-341410" hreflang="en">We hope 'lesson' has been learnt, says Iran on nuclear deal with USA</a>

There was no immediate reaction from Iran to the king's remarks. Tehran has previously described&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;statements against it as "baseless allegations" and denies arming groups in the Middle East.

State news agency SPA published a full transcript of the king's speech after midnight. State TV carried photos of what appeared to be the king virtually addressing council members from his palace in Neom.

King Salman was hospitalized for several days over the summer, suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder for which he had surgery.

Tensions have risen in the region since U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 and reimposed stringent economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Saudi&nbsp;Crown Prince Mohammed's relationship with Trump had provided a buffer against international criticism over Riyadh's rights record sparked by the murder of&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Riyadh's role in Yemen's war and the detention of women activists.

Those areas may now become points of friction with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, who pledged in his campaign to reassess ties with the kingdom, a major oil exporter and buyer of U.S. arms.

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia was an enthusiastic backer of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran. But Biden has said he would return to a 2015 nuclear pact between world powers and Tehran, a deal negotiated when Biden was vice president in Barack Obama's administration.

In Yemen, where&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia leads a military coalition battling the Iran-aligned Houthis in a nearly six year war that has killed tens of thousands, King Salman said the kingdom continues to support U.N.-led efforts to reach a political settlement.

He also condemned the Iran-aligned Houthi movement's "deliberate and methodological" targeting of civilians inside&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia via drones and ballistic missiles.

Riyadh was working to guarantee the stability of global oil supplies to serve both producers and consumers, despite Covid-19's impact on oil markets, the king said.

He repeated his long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, but did not refer to the U.S.-brokered agreements signed between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan to normalise ties with Israel, part of a strategic realignment against Iran.

Riyadh has quietly acquiesced to the UAE and Bahrain deals, though it has stopped short of endorsing them, and has signaled it is not ready to take action itself.

The king spoke days before the Group of 20 summit, which&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia is hosting virtually this year.

Prince Mohammed had denied ordering Khashoggi's killing but in 2019 he acknowledged some personal accountability by saying that it happened on his watch. Riyadh has jailed eight people for between seven and 20 years in the case.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz urged the world on Thursday to take "a decisive stance" to address efforts by Iran to develop nuclear and ballistic missile programs, in an annual address to the top government advisory body.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz urged the world on Thursday to take "a decisive stance" to address efforts by Iran to develop nuclear and ballistic missile programs, in an annual address to the top government advisory body. "The kingdom stresses the dangers of Iran's regional project, its interference in other countries, its fostering of terrorism, its fanning the flames of sectarianism and calls for a decisive stance from the international community against Iran that guarantees a drastic handling of its efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction and develop its ballistic missiles programme," the king said. "This firm stance must guarantee that the Iranian regime is prevented from obtaining weapons of mass destruction, the development of its ballistic missile programme and threatening peace and security," he added in a speech delivered in the early hours. Also read: Iran's enriched uranium stockpile 12 times over limit set in 2015 deal They were the 84-year-old ruler's first public remarks since he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in September via videolink, where he also took aim at Iran. Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran are locked in a decades-long struggle for influence across the region, supporting opposing sides in conflicts from Syria to Yemen. Riyadh appears wary of Biden's pledge to revive a 2015 nuclear pact between major powers and Iran, a landmark deal that was negotiated when he served as vice president under Barack Obama. Also read: We hope 'lesson' has been learnt, says Iran on nuclear deal with USA There was no immediate reaction from Iran to the king's remarks. Tehran has previously described Saudi statements against it as "baseless allegations" and denies arming groups in the Middle East. State news agency SPA published a full transcript of the king's speech after midnight. State TV carried photos of what appeared to be the king virtually addressing council members from his palace in Neom. King Salman was hospitalized for several days over the summer, suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder for which he had surgery. Tensions have risen in the region since U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 and reimposed stringent economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed's relationship with Trump had provided a buffer against international criticism over Riyadh's rights record sparked by the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Riyadh's role in Yemen's war and the detention of women activists. Those areas may now become points of friction with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, who pledged in his campaign to reassess ties with the kingdom, a major oil exporter and buyer of U.S. arms. Saudi Arabia was an enthusiastic backer of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran. But Biden has said he would return to a 2015 nuclear pact between world powers and Tehran, a deal negotiated when Biden was vice president in Barack Obama's administration. In Yemen, where Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition battling the Iran-aligned Houthis in a nearly six year war that has killed tens of thousands, King Salman said the kingdom continues to support U.N.-led efforts to reach a political settlement. He also condemned the Iran-aligned Houthi movement's "deliberate and methodological" targeting of civilians inside Saudi Arabia via drones and ballistic missiles. Riyadh was working to guarantee the stability of global oil supplies to serve both producers and consumers, despite Covid-19's impact on oil markets, the king said. He repeated his long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, but did not refer to the U.S.-brokered agreements signed between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan to normalise ties with Israel, part of a strategic realignment against Iran. Riyadh has quietly acquiesced to the UAE and Bahrain deals, though it has stopped short of endorsing them, and has signaled it is not ready to take action itself. The king spoke days before the Group of 20 summit, which Saudi Arabia is hosting virtually this year. Prince Mohammed had denied ordering Khashoggi's killing but in 2019 he acknowledged some personal accountability by saying that it happened on his watch. Riyadh has jailed eight people for between seven and 20 years in the case.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz urges world to take 'firm stance' against Iran

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Wednesday (Sept. 23) called for a comprehensive solution on Iran and disarming its affiliate Hezbollah in Lebanon, and expressed support for U.S. efforts to start talks between Israel and the Palestinians during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly.

Saudi's King Salman slams Iran at the UN General Assembly 2020

Hundreds of migrants are stuck in detention centres un Saudi Arabia, and&nbsp;Ethiopia has admitted that it is not doing enough to assist the migrants out of the detention centres.

A statement released by the foreign ministry of&nbsp;Ethiopia read, "The Ethiopian government needs to exert higher effort in fighting human traffickers and brokers, making border controls more effective, and creating awareness for the youth."

"We are not doing enough."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-saudi-arabia-and-pakistan-are-influencing-uns-counter-terrorism-wing-324820">Also read|&nbsp;How Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are influencing UN's counter-terrorism wing</a>

The statement came after the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed faced immense criticism at home and from overseas for facilitating the return of the migrants who got stuck due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The&nbsp;Ethiopians stuck in the detention camps are majority of those who went to Saudi Arabia to look for work. Majority of immigrants reach Saudi by putting their lives at risk by travelling in overcrowded boats that face the risk of sinking&nbsp;during sea crossings that usually continue for more than a day.

Up to half a million Ethiopians were in Saudi Arabia when officials there launched a crackdown on illegal migrants in 2017, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM).&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabias-petrodollar-diplomacy-pakistan-asked-to-return-billion-dollar-loans-324818">Also read|&nbsp;Saudi Arabia's petrodollar diplomacy: Pakistan asked to return billion dollar loans</a>

Since then, approximately 10,000&nbsp;Ethiopians were being deported back to their home country on a monthly basis, until the start of this year. However, since the start of this year, migrants are now being detained under&nbsp;"arbitrary and abusive" conditions, as reported by Human Rights Watch.&nbsp;

The issue came to light after a British newspaper published interviews of the immgrants, along with pictures of the detention camps, highlighting the unsanitary and inhumane conditions of the camps.

Saudi Arabia's embassy in the UK, after the report, quickly shifted the blame on the&nbsp;Ethiopian authorities accusing them of refusing to take the migrants back.

Ethiopia disputed this in its statement Thursday, saying it had "never refused to receive its citizens from any country but operates on according to principle and the availability of resources".&nbsp;

However, now, the Ethiopian government, on Thursday,&nbsp;praised Saudi Arabiafor "outstanding support extended to our citizens in general and Ethiopian irregular migrants in particular".

Hundreds of migrants are stuck in detention centres un Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia has admitted that it is not doing enough to assist the migrants out of the detention centres.

Hundreds of migrants are stuck in detention centres un Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia has admitted that it is not doing enough to assist the migrants out of the detention centres. A statement released by the foreign ministry of Ethiopia read, "The Ethiopian government needs to exert higher effort in fighting human traffickers and brokers, making border controls more effective, and creating awareness for the youth." "We are not doing enough." Also read| How Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are influencing UN's counter-terrorism wing The statement came after the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed faced immense criticism at home and from overseas for facilitating the return of the migrants who got stuck due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Ethiopians stuck in the detention camps are majority of those who went to Saudi Arabia to look for work. Majority of immigrants reach Saudi by putting their lives at risk by travelling in overcrowded boats that face the risk of sinking during sea crossings that usually continue for more than a day. Up to half a million Ethiopians were in Saudi Arabia when officials there launched a crackdown on illegal migrants in 2017, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). Also read| Saudi Arabia's petrodollar diplomacy: Pakistan asked to return billion dollar loans Since then, approximately 10,000 Ethiopians were being deported back to their home country on a monthly basis, until the start of this year. However, since the start of this year, migrants are now being detained under "arbitrary and abusive" conditions, as reported by Human Rights Watch. The issue came to light after a British newspaper published interviews of the immgrants, along with pictures of the detention camps, highlighting the unsanitary and inhumane conditions of the camps. Saudi Arabia's embassy in the UK, after the report, quickly shifted the blame on the Ethiopian authorities accusing them of refusing to take the migrants back. Ethiopia disputed this in its statement Thursday, saying it had "never refused to receive its citizens from any country but operates on according to principle and the availability of resources". However, now, the Ethiopian government, on Thursday, praised Saudi Arabiafor "outstanding support extended to our citizens in general and Ethiopian irregular migrants in particular".

'We are not doing enough': Ethiopia admits not helping enough to assist migrants in Saudi

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been admitted to hospital, suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder,

84-year-old Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz hospitalised

The women of Saudi Arabia are using their wedding contracts to assert their right to drive. Watch full video to know more.

Saudi women use pre-wedding contracts to assert right to drive