like many young saudi man, this one loves driving his suv, a pleasure that is denied to saudi women by is 26. he studied in the u.s. and now works as an accountant, earning $5,000 a month. visiting a shopping malls is another favorite pastime but for the moneyed middle-class. but here, they're no cinema is and no concert tour non- religious events are all but banned in the muslim country. the malls offer a small degree of freedom for women, but head scarves and strict segregation are the norm. but amid the glitzy facades, some signs of change in saudi arabia are becoming apparent. while we hesitate to approach women for interviews, they approached us, curious about the presence of the german tv crew. but when we asked about women's rights, they become wary. the answer is some very much like the official line. >> they are against the idea of letting women drive. >> why? >> because, even though that only men can drive, there are so many problems. >> separate lines for men and women. improper socializing could risk a run-in with the religious police. few dare to publicly challenged the la

government trust the assurances that the saudi the saudi powers have given them about the do you still of the weapons that they're being sold we saw violence last year during the arab spring brutal suppression of protesters particularly from this shiite minority saudi arabia of course is a sunni majority country there's a shiite minority there came out on the streets and were brutally suppressed and indeed just as late as thursday night we saw one process of killed and wounded when the security forces opened fire with live ammunition on. the. violence on iraq iran has a shiite majority and in the region they represent the interests of shiite minorities in other sunni majority countries like saudi arabia so iran's accusing them of meddling there's also an accusation by the u.s. that iran plotted to have the saudi ambassador to. washington assassinated in october said it's all thoughts of tension between saudi arabia and iran very worrying but nevertheless that his government is looking at carrying on selling arms to saudi arabia and even upping is out of contract so a massive amount of

the saudis the violence in.iraq is has a shiite majority and in the region they represent the interests of shiite minorities in other sunni majority countries like saudi arabia so iran is accusing them of meddling there's also an accusation by the us that iran plotted to have these thousand ambassador to washington assassinated in october so there's all sorts of tension between saudi arabia and iran very worrying but nevertheless the british government is looking at carrying on selling arms to saudi arabia and even upping those arms contracts so massive amounts of money at stake for the u.k. government but also reputation according to this powerful group of lobbyists within the government the recent reporting there front is probably triple a credit rating could be about to be not according to a senior eurozone source the speculation that started the poor might downgrade the country stages the world markets plunging after an optimistic start of the year is also likely to shake the already crumbling confidence in

to sabotaging revenue and loss but by no means least you have saudi arabia qatar saudi arabia is financially and politically backing the the still very young opposition and has been widely reported to be funding and arming the jihadi rebels who are leading this insurrection now obviously apart from doing nato's dirty work saudi arabia. hate the syrian regime for the simple reason it's secular this is the only secular country that's left in the middle east now we've seen the overthrow of secular regimes throughout the region during the past year and in their place islamised are often very closely aligned with saudi arabia and qatar if not funded by them have taken their place and so this is the saudi cutlery wahhabi revolution and it's called the nation will be the overthrow of our said regime the death of the final secular state in the arab world and it's obvious who will take their place radical jihadists and counterparts in the muslim brotherhood. you say a little earlier moscow being marginalized but moscow is being very proactive here pushing for those talks we know of course that wester

arabia close american ally and saudi arabia in turn along with taken control of the revolutions out swearin so for example its funding and into the main islamic party in tunisia the muslim brotherhood and more extremist groups in in egypt are on the record as saying they go substantial funds from saudi arabia the yemeni government has openly criticized for interfering in its internal affairs and funding radical islamists and of course in syria they are the main opposition is made dominated by the muslim brotherhood and the so-called free syrian army is dominated by not only radical jihadi is from within syria but also you have these from throughout the region where we're told constantly that there's no real threat because these are moderate islamist parties but of course the definition of moderate makes absolutely no sense in any rational because saudi arabia is often described in the western media as a moderate arab state and i lived in saudi arabia for three years and i can assure you there is absolutely nothing moderate about our country that's all you say that . is the base grou

and then we saw a war on all of this is leading to war the hawks in washington there are allies in saudi arabia and israel so the absolutely determined to bring iran to its knees and it seems like it's now or never and they're going for broke so what will happen next you think well what does that usually involve what they're hoping. iran is backed into a corner and some incident occurs whether by accident or design that makes it seem that the rain in the first hour as well and then because there is very little support in the west for unilateral strike against iran the fact is especially if it's done at the behest of israel and they need iran to do something whether it's the us carrier it's a mine in the strait of hormuz or whether it's just rhetoric on the part of the ukrainian regime. it's everyone's up upping the ratchet to the extent that something has to happen and the americans wouldn't militarized to the extent that they have if they weren't expecting the final out to be war do you see that that could be the iranians looking the straits of hormuz the gulf oil export reaches that no

arabia is often described in the western media as a moderate arab state and i lived in saudi arabia for three years and i can assure you there is absolutely nothing moderate about our country that's all you say that . is the miscreants who have stepped into the breach in many of these countries are you saying that these weren't genuine people's uprisings at the time. the idea. behind it is that they hijacked the revolutions and precisely because they were in fact islamic inspired the beginning in tunisia could never have been because it's rather in prison already and the muslim brotherhood in egypt openly came out against the revolution initially the problem is that the. motivation for these revolutions was economic internees here for example it started in the deep south. south in syria it started in a city near jordan which it been experiencing a drought for three years i mean egypt an extensive opinion poll carried out even among those who went to her just after mubarak fell showed that only nineteen percent of the free and fair elections and free expression and so on of the top o

in late february when saudi arabia was given the go ahead by washington. what happened then is related very much to everything that's happening now because it's the only country that is a majority ruled by a sunny minority and iran has the story claims to the island and the u.s. navy's fifth fleet is based there crucial to containing iran and so. what we've seen is a sunny shia divide reemerge in the middle east with washington clearly backing sonny powerhouse saudi arabia close american ally and saudi arabia in turn along has taken control of the revolutions out swearin so for example its funding and into the main islamic party in tunisia the muslim brotherhood and more extremist groups in in egypt are on the record as saying they go substantial funds from saudi arabia the yemeni government has openly criticized for interfering in its internal affairs and funding radical islamists and of course in syria they are the main opposition is made dominated by the muslim brotherhood and the so-called free syrian army is dominated by not only radical jihadi is fro

saudi arabia pulls out of the mission in syria. we will ask how damaging this is for the arab league. it is midday in london, early morning in washington, 1:00 in the afternoon in brussels. european union appears close to imposing new sanctions in iran. the eu's foreign policy chief says that the aim is to get iran around the table. but it could easily lead to more confrontation. the president of the u.s., british warships -- the presence of the u.s. and british warships on at the borders. >> the temperature rises once more in this long standoff over the country's nuclear ambitions. its nuclear activities have attracted several rounds of sanctions. the new ones are different. >> the sanctions are getting heavier and heavier. the international community hopes that they are going to get more effective as well. it would seem that this time it is possible that it really will begin to squeeze tehran. >> the sacking of britain blasted diplomatic compounds in tehran in november on the sensitivities involved. will this added to pressure ar

saudi arabia turned to japan three years ago. since then, the japanese organization in the oil industry has been working with seismologists to adapt across for oil exploration. recently people in the oil sector got their first look at across at a workshop in saudi arabia. a saudi official said the country intends to continue joint research hoping to commercialize this new technology. [ applause ] >> hopefully, eventually we can apply this to the oil fields and monitor the use of these fields and their reservoirs. it's a very important technology for us. we're very happy to work with japan on this. >> translator: this machine was developed to predict earthquakes. i never thought that it would be useful for oil production or for fighting climate change. >> reporter: as many people look out on developments in the gulf, japan's cutting edge technology may lead to more oil production in the region. >> next we go to bangkok. >> we start off in afghanistan where a deadly blast killed four people and left dozens wounded. officials say al

cnn. >> saudi arabia in particular is benefitting. $10 billion refinery deal. the kingdom will own a 62.5% stake in the venture and is expected to produce 4.5 barrels a day. this is what they had to say about the partnership. >> it is a thirst for energy. and the most cost-effective and convenient way to quench that thirst is to provide them with the energy and that interdependence. we need china as much as china needs us. >> this is the first refinery project outside of china which is expected to begin production 2014. and the company's chairman is thinking ahead. >> we're looking for long term management to secure our sustainable growth around the world. and, secondly, and because of the largest energy supplier is here and larger markets is there in china. so this is naturally linking us together. >> as saudi arabia bolsters its relationship, it is keeping a close eye on the on going tensions with iran. if new sanctions are imposed over its nuclear program. i sat down with the saudi oil minister and asked him if the kingdom can make

the west's talk about syria which would be changed and leave saudi arabia damascus says rejection was no surprise they sides of the conflict of shame equal a willingness to soften their stance even when the daily death toll in the country continually rising the killing of the head of the syrian arab red crescent was on the right to damascus yes you know the remind the spiraling situation. of such a creature of even to the country's crisis is seen as clinching show the arab league essentially has no credibility on the arab street what the arab league mission is trying to accomplish is good enough everything is concrete everything about human rights abuses on the part of the are so very easy to then take to the un the evidence will be so strong that even russia and china will feel compelled to work but as of now one month after this mission started they seem to know the monitors thing to know more about what's going on the ground and they think. at the beginning and so it all looks like you know we're going back to square one as the death toll rises the proposal being floated to increas

parliamentary vice industry minister met saudi arabia's deputy oil minister in the saudi arabian capitol sunday. they say that saudi arabia is a reliable supplier. he responded assuring his country will remain a dependable supplier to japan. the visit follows that of japanese foreign minister earlier this month. iran threatens to block the strait of hormuz, a major oil shipping lane if the u.s. and european nations impose sanctions against the country over nuclear development. >>> iranian leaders cautioned gulf neighbors, too. they warn other oil producing nations will suffer consequences if there's any move to replace production. the representative to opec gave the warning in a local newspaper interview. he was quoted saying the acts will not be considered friendly. the japanese foreign minister and the chinese premier are visiting oil producing nations in the gulf to secure oil imports. iranian leaders are wary of increased production by saudi arabia and other nations. increasing supply could help japan and other oil importers that is support the sanctions. the saudi arabian oil minist

trouble started in the position of saudi arabia. is a position that is calling for. this whoosh an offer the push mom between the city and iran and they are trying to pressure the syrian government to break its ties with iran because of the tensions that have been rising between saudi arabia and iran that is a traditional position however i think it's time in syria for dialogue and the president president assad has created the platform for such dialogue in the same time. the arab league has declared an extension for the monitors mission the other monitors mission in syria the arab monitors mission is as your report just stated a few minutes ago that it's lacking manpower it's lacking equipment it's lacking training it needs more time to actually build a comprehensive report on what's there however the first report the preliminary report has been leaked to the media and i have have had access to parts of this report this report shows that the there are some grave violations on both sides. the opposition or what the so-called syrian f

arabia qatar saudi arabia is financially and politically backing the the still very young opposition. has been widely reported to be funding arming the jihadi rebels who are leading this insurrection now obviously apart from doing nato as dirty saudi arabia. the syrian regime for the simple reason that secular this is the only secular country that's left in the middle east now saudi arabia of all the countries and complains of human rights abuses on the part of the assad regime and say six weeks during its monitors because he doesn't want to be a false witness to human rights abuses i mean saudi arabia has a reputation second perhaps only to north korea in the world repressing and oppressing and told cheering and imprisoning its own people so he sees the saudi. revolution and its culmination will be the overthrow of assad regime. you need is have agreed at five hundred billion your rescue fund would be you were to come in july a year earlier than planned and they've also been debating plans to close a fiscal union to bring pride to central you control of the budgets of member states

arabia qatar saudi arabia is financially and politically backing the the very opposition and has been widely reported to be funding arming the rebels who are leading this insurrection now obviously apart from doing nato as dirty saudi arabia. the syrian regime for simple reason it's secular this is the only secular country that's left in the middle east now saudi arabia of all the countries and complains about human rights abuses on the part of the assad regime and say things withdrawing its monitors because he doesn't want to be a false witness to human rights abuses i mean saudi arabia has a reputation second perhaps only to north korea in the world repressing and oppressing and torturing and imprisoning its own people so he sees the saudi. revolution and its culmination will be the overthrow of said regime. still ahead for you in r.t. just over a month before russia's presidential vote. prime minister vladimir putin is the real action article. as the presidential candidates for widespread economic reform. and also still to come for you the occupy movement spills onto the streets of

arabia qatar saudi arabia is financially and politically back and backing the the very opposition and has been widely reported to be funding and arming the rebels who are leading this insurrection now obviously apart from doing nato's dirty work saudi arabia. hate the syrian regime for a simple reason it's secular this is the only secular country that's left in the middle east now saudi arabia of all the countries on earth complains of human rights abuses on the part of the us so very shimon say things withdrawing its monitors because he doesn't want to be a false witness to human rights abuses i mean saudi arabia has a reputation second perhaps only to north korea in the world repressing and oppressing and told cheering and imprisoning its own people. this is the saudi cutlery wahhabi revolution and it's culmination will be the overthrow of assad regime. iran has vowed to halt all exports to some e.u. countries for up to fifteen years despite its parliament is putting a debate on a complete ban on crude supplies to europe could be in retaliation to the e.u. imposed embargo on iranian

pair of cent of saudi oil exports are loaded. what do you think about that john might before we go to the break here i mean is is this what you think this is plausible that the sanctions will actually work or are really right this is just a political move in washington to please the israelis and please the republican electorate well i'm puzzled by it because the thing is if iran isn't selling its oil to the european union it will be selling it to somebody else that person will then need to import less oil from elsewhere and that will be freed up for the europeans i mean oil is pretty much oil and so if the same amount is going into the world market the same coming out i don't see that a whole lot of spin achieved now if you get into a scenario where they start trying to stop raining oil exports altogether and then the iranians might want to attack saudi oil fields this gives the west a big incentive for a preemptive attack if the temperature around that show and i know john let me go to a short break i'll go right back to you aft

it could be almost anybody could be the saudis it could be many producers no one knows exactly who it is but it is definitely going on the only people transparent in this are essentially shell who invented transparently into a relationship with e.t.f. securities to essentially lease their oil and give price exposure the oil price exposure to the customer but most people are not doing this transparently so what's happening max is that is oil which the entire industry thinks is owned by the producer but it's not been sold already to somebody else and what that means is when they see the price going a certain way in the physical market or the forward market they think are well will sell face. and then what happens is what they don't realize is that the person who bought it from them actually already has control of the oil and they get what's called squeeze what we're talking about max is a market that has become entirely corrupted entirely corrupted mike musters. well known commodity experts he gave evidence to congress in june two thousand and nine and he brought the world down on his h

seen is a sunny divide reemerge in the middle east with washington clearly backing sonny powerhouse saudi arabia close american ally and saudi arabia in turn along has taken control of the revolutions out swearin so for example its funding and into the main islamic party in tunisia the muslim brotherhood and more extremist groups in egypt and of course in syria the main opposition is made dominated by the muslim brotherhood and the so-called free syrian army is dominated by not only radical jihadi is from within syria but also jihadi is from throughout the region where we're told constantly that there's no real threat because these are moderate islamist parties but of course the definition of moderate makes absolutely no sense you say that that if that is the miscreants who have stepped into the breach in many of these countries are you saying that these weren't genuine people's uprisings at the time. the idea. behind it is that they hijacked the revolutions and precisely because they were in fact islamists inspired the beginning in tunisia could never have been because it's rather in pri

imported by the european union will not be as an easy job furthermore the gulf producers including saudi arabia are not in a position to all of said the loss of that oil because they don't have any spare capacity to be able to provide for the european union so we are in a very. difficult situation with the oil market very very tight ok john if i can go back to you i mean really what this is all about we had tim geithner going around the world last month getting countries to cut oil imports from iran and most countries are not going to go along with it but what the what is really the plan is really about nuking iran is nuclear program or is it really about regime change for over thirty years now well after four sets of sanctions this is the silver bullet right this is the one that's finally to take the regime down is that what the plan is. well i think that that probably is the plan for the simple reason that the iranian regime is extremely of not just an aggressive and you know the idea well they're not working on nuclear weapons they're just building centrifuges in a fortified compounds