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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Monday lashed out at regional rival Iran, accusing the Shiite powerhouse of having forces inside Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and insisting that Iran is “part of the problem” in trying to defuse the myriad Mideast crises.

Saud al-Faisal said that Tehran should pull its troops — which he called “occupying forces” — from the three Mideast nations stricken by conflicts and violence if it wants to be part of the solution.

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Al-Faisal did not elaborate on his allegations.

Iran insists it has no forces on the ground in any of the three countries, but has sent advisers to help Syrian President Bashar Assad keep his hold on power and to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad to battle Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).

Iran is Syria’s strongest ally in the Middle East, and has provided Assad’s government with military and political backing for years. Iran also is believed to be sending weapons and money to Syria.