Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran soared over Shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr’s recent execution. Tehran then cut all commercial ties with Riyadh, and banned pilgrims from travelling to Mecca.
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Saudi Arabia had maintained earlier that severing diplomatic ties with Iran was the first step and it could go further if Tehran does not change its policies.
In Saudi Arabia, he expressed his hope for calm and restraint from all relevant parties, a resolution of differences through dialogue, and joint efforts to push the situation towards detente, the statement said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir speaks to reporters following a GCC extraordinary session.
The Saudi foreign minister threatened Iran with opposition from all Arab countries, but promised that the row with Iran would not affect peace talks in Syria.
Last week, Islamic State, a Sunni rival of al Qaeda, threatened to destroy Saudi Arabian prisons holding jihadists after the executions.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed that the people of Pakistan would always stand with the people of Saudi Arabia against any threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Foreign governments including the United States and Saudi Arabia have provided rebels with military support, but have resisted demands for missiles for fear they would end up with hardline jihadist groups such as Islamic State.
“Based on primary investigations, the mistakes of Safa Ali Baratlu, Tehran Province’s deputy governor for security affairs, were proved and the decision to replace him was promptly made due to sensitivity of the case”, the ministry said in the statement, published by Iranian news agencies.
The Cabinet noted the position of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab states, their strong condemnation of Iranian attacks, their categorical rejection of them, and holding Iranian authorities fully responsible according to their commitment to Vienna Conventions 1961 and 1963, and the worldwide law holding countries responsible for protecting diplomatic missions.
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The council condemned the continuing Iranian government interference in the internal affairs of the Arab countries over the past decades, stressing that such acts undermine security and stability in the region, are a violation of global law and are contrary to the principle of good neighborliness.
