This prompted Riyadh to sever relations with Tehran, which in turn cut all commercial ties with Riyadh, and banned pilgrims from travelling to Mecca.
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The incident occurred late at night after Saudi Arabia executed Shiite cleric and activist Nimr al-Nimr, a force behind 2011 anti-government protests in the eastern province, for crimes against the kingdom.
Iran is ready to talk to Saudi Arabia – or at least so it says.
However his remarks on Wednesday, in a speech to electoral officials ahead of the country’s parliamentary polls on February 26, underscored that the embassy attack had no sympathy from within the Islamic republic’s establishment.
President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that now that sanctions have been lifted, Iran should redouble efforts to attract foreign investment and liberalize its economy.
The embassy vandals took selfies and smartphone video footage where they were seen holding items stolen from inside the building, causing deep embarrassment in Tehran. “The Iranian missile program is a legitimate defense program” and allowed under the landmark nuclear deal, he said.
In the weeks since tensions have only risen between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with each accusing the other of damaging the Middle East.
Mishra says Canada also wants to ensure that the lifting of any sanctions does not lead to an illicit trade in nuclear and ballistic missile technology by Iran. “India looks forward to further developing its longstanding, close and mutually beneficial economic cooperation with Iran, including in the spheres of energy and regional connectivity”, External Affairs Ministry said today in a release. He put in a plug for Iran’s workforce and relative stability in a region riven with conflict including Yemen and Syria.
“The politician should do the same and stop the enemies with full power if they cross the line anywhere”, Khamenei said.
Asked about conservative voices within Iran, he said: “Iran is not a monolith, I think Americans would recognize that… just like the United States is not”.
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“We believe that Iran and Saudi Arabia can be two important players who can accommodate each other, who can complement each other, in the region”, Zarif told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
