“We strongly condemn the attacks on diplomatic missions by Iran and absolutely reject the Iranian policy of interference in the affairs of the kingdom and any other Arab state”, Nahyan said.
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Saudi Arabia says last week’s executions were a domestic matter, and that Iran is the country pursuing sectarian division by casting itself as the champion of Arab Shi’ites.
The Ministerial Council strongly condemned and categorically rejected these attacks, holding the Iranian authorities fully responsible for these terrorist acts based on its commitment to the 1961 and 1963 Vienna Conventions and worldwide law, which hold countries responsible for protecting the diplomatic missions in their territories. But he said Saudi Arabia can not use severing diplomatic ties with Iran to “hide its crime” of executing Nimr al-Nimr, who was critical of the Riyadh kingdom.
Riyadh accused Iranian officials of turning a blind eye as the mob attacked and set fire to the buildings, saying repeated requests for help were ignored.
Anti-Saudi demonstrators took to the streets of Tehran on Friday to protest Riyadh s execution of a prominent Shia cleric and after Iran accused its rival of bombing its embassy in Yemen.
Zarif said Iran had “no desire” to escalate tensions further, but offered no compromise as he placed the blame for the crisis, and the wider turmoil across the region, squarely on Saudi shoulders.
Iran’s foreign minister has complained to the United Nations about Saudi Arabia’s “provocations” toward Tehran, as a diplomatic crisis between the region’s two major powers entered its second week. Still, it is significant in that the six GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – are now officially on the same page.
“The Saudis simply wanted a statement of solidarity and they got it. They did not really ask for more or expect more”, he said.
But there are now concerns that the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which both took part in the talks, could damage the peace process.
Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government against rebel groups, some of which are backed by Riyadh.
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Iran, though, has stood its ground – even banning pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina as well as Saudi imports.
