The Iran-Saudi Arabia crisis widened on Tuesday as Kuwait recalled its ambassador from Tehran amid growing global concern. Its execution of Shia political activists at the weekend – one of them prominent cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr – appears to be calculated to deepen Islam’s sectarian divide.
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“For the past two-and-a-half years, Saudi Arabia has opposed Iran’s diplomacy”, Zarif said at a joint press conference in Tehran with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
China relies heavily on the Middle East for oil, importing around 16 per cent of its supplies from Saudi Arabia and about 9 per cent from Iran in 2014.
But others have focused on the cleric, calling Saudi Arabia’s decision unjust and taking action in response.
The attacks “represent a flagrant breach of worldwide agreements and norms and a grave violation of Iran’s global commitments for the security of diplomatic missions and the safety of diplomats”, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) cited the country’s Foreign Ministry as saying.
Speaking alongside Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mr al-Jaafari said Iraq’s place in the heart of the Middle East allows it to play a role in trying to “alleviate tensions”.
Bahrain-base of the US Fifth Fleet-cut air links with Iran on Tuesday.
Asked whether the latest escalation between Tehran and Riyadh would put the Syrian peace push in jeopardy, the expert said: “It would be naïve to believe the Saudis ever wanted peace; they were the ones who supported the terrorists”.
For the royal family, the execution signals a tough hand against any trouble from Saudi Arabia’s Shiites and bolsters the kingdom’s posturing as the champion for Sunni Muslims in the region against Iranian influence.
“One of the key things on his mind is de-escalate the tensions, restore some sense of calm, encourage dialogue and engagement between these countries, but also to make the point there are other pressing issues in the region”, Kirby said.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sudan broke all ties with Iran, and the United Arab Emirates downgraded its relations on Monday after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters.
The U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was en route to Riyadh on Monday with plans to later visit Tehran. Saudi Arabia supports the city dominated opposition…in Syria and it seeks to housed Syrian president the child son… meanwhile Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah support the Assad regime of money weapons and soldiers… if you are is also back opposing sides of the conflicts in Yemen…
In eastern Saudi Arabia, where al-Nimr agitated for greater political rights for Shiites in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, three days of mourning over his death were to end Wednesday night.
Anger… Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr burn an effigy of King Salman of Saudi Arabia as they hold posters of Sheik Nimr al-Nimr during a demonstration in Baghdad, Iraq.
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The U.N. Security Council did not address the execution of Nimr, who was convicted of inciting sectarian strife, sedition and other charges after his 2012 arrest.
