Jordan has been attacked by Iranian-made drones and hit by Iranian-made missiles that were meant at Israel but hit Jordan instead, according to Jordanian King Abdullah II in an interview with CNN on Sunday.
"There are legitimate concerns in our part of the world on a lot of portfolios that the Americans are hopefully going to be able to discuss with the Iranians," Abdullah told CNN in response to a question about whether he would prefer to see Iran return to the nuclear deal.
Abdullah mentioned a number of Iran-related challenges, including the nuclear program, ballistic missile developments, hacking, and border firefights.
"The nuclear program affects Israel as it does the Gulf," Abdullah warned.
"The ballistic technology has improved dramatically," the Jordanian monarch added. "Unfortunately, we've seen that against American bases in Iraq." Saudi Arabia has been hit by rockets fired from Yemen. To some extent, Israel is separated from Syria and Lebanon, and what misses Israel occasionally settles in Jordan. As a result, we have these reservations.
"Add to that the rise in cyberattacks against many of our countries." Firefights on our borders have grown to the point that we are virtually back to where we were with Da'esh (ISIS). And sadly, Jordan has been attacked by drones with an Iranian signature, which we must deal with," Abdullah said CNN, adding that all of the threats he outlined had escalated in the last year or two and were rising.
Abdullah went on to say that he believes the US and Iranian views in the Vienna talks are "somewhat far apart."
The Jordanian king cited the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait's efforts to engage with Iran in order to de-escalate tensions.
"Let's hope that those talks get us to a better position where we can calm the region because we have so many challenges," Abdullah told CNN.
The IDF shot down an Iranian drone near the Jordanian border in northern Israel during Operation Guardian of the Walls. The drone was suspected to have been launched from either Iraq or Syria, according to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the time.
Syrian air defense missiles have fallen in Jordan by accident in response to purported Israeli bombings on Syria in the past.
Abdullah also mentioned that he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Defense Minister Benny Gantz during his CNN interview. The monarch also stated that he met with the "prime minister" implying that he met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, however, did not specify whether he was referring to the Israeli or Palestinian prime minister.
Abdullah is in the United States for a two-week visit and met with US Vice President Joe Biden last week. Abdullah is the first Arab leader to pay a visit to Vice President Joe Biden at the White House. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi will follow him on July 26. Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett are set to meet soon, according to US and Israeli sources.
