Iran’s leader jabs Trump’s ‘theatrical’ Saudi trip

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday dismissed President Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia as a “theatrical gathering” that would not help combat terrorism.

It was a “theatrical gathering with no practical or political value,” he said of Trump’s stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, according to CNN.

“You can’t solve terrorism just by giving your money to a superpower,” Rouhani added, referencing Trump’s $110 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia.

{mosads}“The Americans do not know our region. That’s the problem,” continued the president, who was reelected last Friday. “Those who are advising the Americans are unfortunately rulers who deviate America with unsound advice or buy some influence in the U.S. with their money.”

Trump landed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the first stop of his first foreign tour since becoming president. He signed a $110 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia during the visit aimed at addressing the kingdom’s defense needs while scaling back U.S. military involvement in specific operations.

A White House official said the deal will help increase Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities, bolstering equipment and services in the face of extremist terrorist groups and Iran.

Trump on Sunday implored Muslim nations to form a new coalition to defeat extremism, casting it as a war between “good and evil.”

“[Terrorists] do not worship god, they worship death,” he said at a summit with leaders from more than 50 Muslim-majority nations. “A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and drive out the extremists.”