Iran meanwhile accused Saudi Arabia of hurting efforts to resolve the Syrian civil war with the dispute, which has resulted in tensions between the Sunni and Shiite regional rivals reaching new heights. “It strongly condemned these acts and stated that Iran carries the responsibility for these terrorist acts”, said GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani following a meeting in Riyadh of the foreign ministers. Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran and its mission in Mashhad, Iran’s second city, were attacked by mobs and set on fire after the killing. Later, Riyadh cut its diplomatic ties with Tehran over the attack on its embassy, while many of Gulf partners either followed suit or downgraded their relations with the Islamic Republic. Among them were four Shia Muslims, including prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr, whose death triggered a diplomatic crisis between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia-dominated Iran. Zarif then went on, however, to cite examples of what he said was the targeting by the Saudis “and their surrogates” of Iranian diplomatic offices in Yemen, Lebanon and Pakistan. The minister said that while determining that theme, they had taken into consideration the fact that Turkey will host two important events in 2016.
Advertisement
A Saudi anti-government protester carries a poster with the image of Shiite cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr during the funeral of three Shiite Muslims allegedly killed by Saudi security forces in the eastern town of al-Awamiya.
Speaking at a news conference after an Arab League meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir said his country would discuss any potential further actions against Iran with its regional and worldwide allies but gave no details on what those measures might involve.
But after the talks in Tehran, and with Saudi officials in the last week, de Mistura said both countries had vowed to continue to support peace efforts.
“Egypt refuses all the threats from Iranian officials over [the Saudi kingdom’s] enforcement of its internal law on a Saudi citizen only because he belongs to the Shi’a sect”, Shoukry said. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy multi faceted cooperation including in the fields of defense and counter terrorism.
Advertisement
Pakistan today said that it was part of the Saudi-led 34-nation Islamic military coalition to fight terrorism but will not contribute soldiers for any combat mission inside Saudi Arabia or any other country.
