Riyadh is dragging the region into conflict, says Iran’s FM Zarif

Iran also backs the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country’s civil war while Saudi Arabia insists he must go for any legitimate peace process to take place.

Opening a meeting of Arab League diplomatic chiefs in Cairo, the group’s head, Nabil al-Arabi, accused Tehran of “provocative acts”.

He said Russian Federation regrets execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia, also describing an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran as “unacceptable”. In particular, the Saudi embassy in the capital Tehran and the consulate in the city of Mashhad were attacked, after which Riyadh broke off diplomatic ties with Tehran on January 3.

The United Arab Emirates lowered the level of their relations with Iran to charges d’affaires and cut the number of accredited Iranian diplomats.

“We regret this has happened, especially given that the cleric had not been fighting against Saudi Arabia with lethal force”, he said. The cooperation with Saudi Arabia would be confined to counter-terrorism only.

But after the talks in Tehran, and with Saudi officials in the last week, de Mistura said both countries had vowed to continue to support peace efforts.

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday its cutting of ties with Iran was a first step and it could take more action if Tehran does not change its policies, but did not expect the dispute to affect efforts on Syria. During a briefing to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee, Aziz told lawmakers that there was no pressure on Pakistan and all issues with Saudi Arabia have been settled. He predicted that not all Arab nations will follow Riyadh’s lead.

Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif announced that Saudi Arabia tries to defeat Iran nuclear deal and drag the entire region into confrontation.

A general view of the Arab foreign minister’s meeting at the Arab League in Cairo, Egypt, January 10, 2016.

Chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Cabinet commended the judiciary’s efficiency and its independence and integrity, Saudi Press Agency, SPA, reported on Monday.

A military official described intensified contacts as part of Riyadh’s heightened diplomatic outreach to allied countries amid aggravating tensions with Iran.