The Iraqi government also accused the 49-year-old Saudi diplomat of interfering in Iraq’s domestics matters.
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Sabhan is the first Saudi ambassador appointed in his country’s embassy in Baghdad, which was only reopened last December since 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait. He said the allegations are considered interference in Iraq’s internal affairs and that Sabhan has not provided the ministry with any proof or evidence of these claims.
The Saudi ambassador said Sunday the call for his dismissal was an easy way for Iraqi officials to avoid embarrassment as they ignore his claims of being targeted for assassination.
Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia are regional rivals and broke off diplomatic ties in January.
In the following months, the Saudi ambassador publicly criticized Shiite militias’ motivations and conduct in Sunni- dominant areas of Iraq like Anbar province, saying the militias aren’t official government forces and they should be dissolved.
Al Sabhan stirred up controversy with biting comments about Iran, including the alleged assassination attempt by a militia.
Previously, media reports said that Sabhan, 49, spoke on his Twitter account about a “terrorist plot” to assassinate him by powerful Shiite militia, led by Aws al-Khafaji, which is part of the government-backed Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization units. “We clearly stated that we do not want al-Sabhan in Iraq.” he said, before adding that if he were assassinated, “it will be an honor and will be proudly admitted”.
“This is a first step, which shows that members of Congress are increasingly ready to move from expressing private concerns to the administration to taking public action to reduce US support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen”, said Robert Naiman, policy director at Just Foreign Policy.
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In an interview on the Dubai-based, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV station, he said Saudi Arabia’s policies on Iraq would not change. “We have a very amicable relationship with Iraqi politicians that the media does not capture”.
