It seems the rupture of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia is not limited simply to these two countries; it is expanding into a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the wider Arab world.
Advertisement
On Sunday, Iran’s supreme leader said Riyadh would face “quick consequences” for executing Nimr, as Washington urged regional leaders to soothe escalating sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Speaking with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, Jaafari said the row could have “wide-ranging repercussions”.
Kuwait on Tuesday summoned its ambassador to Iran following attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad during protests against the Saudi execution of a Shia cleric.
Tension heightened across the Middle East Tuesday, with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declaring that Saudi Arabia could not hide its “crime” of executing a prominent Shiite cleric.
He says the “security of the kingdom is an integral part of Egypt’s security and Egypt’s security is an integral part of the kingdom’s security”.
“Jordan’s full support of the Saudi anti-terror efforts was also conveyed to the ambassador”, Rafei said.
The foreign minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, made his comments at a news conference in Tehran on Wednesday. The Saudis role in the Syrian conflict is less clear although they have organized an Arab anti-terrorism coalition which provides for a much reduced role for Assad in Syria’s future.
“The unjustly spilt blood of this martyr will have quick consequences”, he said, adding: “It will haunt the politicians of this regime”.
Earlier today, Iranian government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said the cutting of diplomatic ties would not hurt Iran or damage its development.
Khamenei was joined in his condemnation of Nimr’s execution by Iraq’s top Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who called the death sentence “an unjust act of aggression”.
A statement on the website of the official Bahrain News Agency accused suspects in the bombing plot of travelling to Iran and Lebanon and receiving money, though it did not disclose the intended target. Demonstrations against the Nimr execution and Saudi Arabia are also being called for in the predominantly Shiite southern cities of Najaf and Basra Monday. A civilian was killed and a child wounded, but there were no details on whether there were any police casualties. Although oil prices initially rose 3% to over $38 per barrel immediately after the Saudi embassy attack, many economists believe continued high production of crude will drag prices back down.
Advertisement
“No, no to Al Saud!” An Associated Press journalist saw police fire tear gas and bird shot, while some protesters threw gasoline bombs.
