China urges calm between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi accused Tehran of “provocative acts” as top Arab diplomats met Sunday for talks on Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic row with Iran.

The Cabinet noted the position of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab states, their strong condemnation of Iranian attacks, their categorical rejection of them, and holding Iranian authorities fully responsible according to their commitment to Vienna Conventions 1961 and 1963, and the worldwide law holding countries responsible for protecting diplomatic missions.

Protesters in Iran last week attacked Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Iran’s second-largest city, Mashhad.

The council condemned Iran’s continued occupation of three islands that are the territory of the United Arab Emirates, fomenting of sectarian strife, support for terrorist organizations, and incitement to undermine security and stability in the GCC countries.

Saudi’s Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Arab nations would “confront” the Iran if it does not change its ways, without elaborating.

Drawing upon the companionship of some Arab states in severing or downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran, he said that some states are trying to solve their economic problems by Saudi petro-dollars or they share political interests with Riyadh.

He said Iran intentionally avoided to protect Saudi diplomatic posts. He suggested shares could be sold in Saudi Aramco, the world’s most valuable company, said to be worth $1.25 to $7 trillion.

Uneasy relations between the conservative Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite power Iran deteriorated sharply when Saudi Arabia executed Shi’ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Jan 2, triggering outrage among Shi’ites. “Let us not forget that the perpetrators of many acts of terror…as well as almost all members of extremist groups like Al-Qaeda and the Nusra Front, have been either Saudi nationals or brainwashed by petrodollar-financed demagogues who have promoted anti-Islamic messages of hatred and sectarianism for decades”.

The king’s favourite son, the prince is defence minister and oversees foreign affairs.

“We regret what happened, especially knowing that this cleric did not fight with arms in his hands against Saudi Arabia”.

The execution triggered protests and an arson attack at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran.

Iran was invited to take part in worldwide talks on Syria for the first time in October, raising hopes that its presence would help end a five-year-long civil war.

It wasn’t clear if his replacement was linked to the embassy attack.