Iran has accused the monarchy of Saudi Arabia of using the attack on the embassy as an “excuse” to sever ties and further increase sectarian tensions.
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Later, Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that “during an air raid by Saudi Arabia against Sanaa, a rocket fell near our embassy and unfortunately one of our guards was seriously wounded”.
“Saudi Arabia is responsible for this action, as well as for compensating Iran for injuries to the embassy personnel and the damages to the embassy building”, Ansari said on Thursday, according to the state-run IRIB News agency.
The Associated Press reported there was no visible damage at the embassy compound in Sanaa, which is held by rebel fighters who have faced more than nine months of airstrikes from a Saudi-led military coalition.
He said the coalition had requested that all countries supply the coordinates of their diplomatic missions, adding that accusations made on the basis of information provided by the Houthis “have no credibility.” . The attacks were in protest of Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Following the execution in Saudi of a prominent Shia cleric on New Year’s Day tensions have been high between the two nations.
Iran believes the airstrike on its embassy in Yemen was an intentional attack on Iran.
This step has been taken after careful consideration and in response to the Republic of Iran’s continuous interference in Somalia’s internal affairs, ” read the statement. Saudi Arabia was “moving against Iran’s efforts” by opposing Tehran’s nuclear deal signed with western countries and “taking measures against the Iranian people” by keeping oil prices low, he said.
Residents and witnesses in the capital Sanaa said there was no damage to the embassy building in the district of Hadda.
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Turkey and Saudi Arabia pursue a similar policy in Syria where they support opposition groups and seek the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Qais al-Khazali, the head of the powerful Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, gave a speech in the southern city of Basra in which he called on Baghdad to cut diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, expel the newly arrived ambassador and boycott Saudi goods.
