Pakistan promises ‘strong military response’ if Saudi Arabia is threatened

While the statement did not announce any specific action against Iran, it did say that a four-nation committee has been formed to discuss relations between the two countries.

Zarif’s opinion piece in the United States newspaper came a week after Riyadh severed diplomatic ties with Iran in a row over the execution of a Shiite cleric.

Sharif made the remarks in a statement after meeting Saudi deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammad bin Salman.

A new video has emerged on the social media showing that Saudi intelligence center in the eastern city of Qatif comes under attack, with speculations that the move is related to Riyadh’s recent execution of senior Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. Former ambassador Mushtaq Ahmed Mehr said, “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have close friendly relations, which have been cemented with the passage of time”.

Chinese ally Russian Federation has also indicated it is ready to invite the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers to Moscow for negotiations.

It was second high-profile trip from Saudi Arabia visitor this week after Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir visited on Thursday to seek support of Pakistan against Iran in the current tension and asked it to join 34-national alliance against terrorism.

Referring to the stampede during the Hajj last fall in which 464 Iranians were killed, Zarif condemned what he called Saudi Arabia’s refusal to grant Iran access to the deceased and their delay in sending the bodies home for burial.

The Cabinet reviewed the Arab League Council’s reconfirmation of its condemnation of the Iranian government for interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries, considering it as a violation of the rules of the worldwide law and the principle of good neighbourliness, and a serious threat to regional and global security and peace. “In Iran I got the same assurance”, he told reporters. The GCC countries have expressed their support for Saudi Arabia; Bahrain has cut ties, Kuwait recalled its Ambassador and UAE downgraded its ties with Iran. He also accused Saudi and its surrogates of targeting Iranian diplomatic facilities in Yemen, Lebanon and Pakistan over the past three years.

On Saturday officials said another round of peace talks due to take place in Geneva on Thursday had been delayed by at least a week after the Houthis refused to take part.