Arab League condemns attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions

Iran and Saudi Arabia are now locked in a diplomatic row over Sunni-majority Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, along with 46 others over terror charges.

The Cabinet condemned the attacks, destruction, burning and looting at the kingdom’s embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad, noting that the attacks came after Iranian aggressive regime’s comments which formed a blatant incitement that encouraged attacks on the missions and represented a flagrant violation of all worldwide agreements, charters and treaties.

After that, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan and Djibouti severed diplomatic relations with Iran, demanding that Iranian diplomats leave their territory. A Chinese diplomat urged “calm and restraint” between Saudi Arabia and Iran during a visit to both countries last week, China’s government said today.

The Saudi-Yemeni and North African branches of Al-Qaeda have threatened to avenge Saudi Arabia’s execution of more than 40 militants, calling the measure a “foolish act”.

Cavusoglu said Turkey was working to improve relations with Iran but noted that Ankara and Tehran viewed regional issues from different perspectives.

“These attacks clearly reflect the approach that the Iranian policy is taking in our Arab region specifically… with its interference in the affairs of the (region’s) states and instigation of sectarian strife and shaking its security and stability”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif castigated the government of Saudi Arabia over the weekend in a New York Times op-ed, accusing the Saudis of “active sponsorship of violent extremism” at home and overseas.

A top military aide to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei warned against the Israeli attempts to escalate tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

But after talks with Mr Zarif in Tehran yesterday and with Saudi officials in the past week, UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura insisted the dispute would not damage his efforts.

As well as the Syria peace talks, the crisis also threatens a fragile UN-backed initiative to end the war in Yemen, where the Huthi rebels have seized control of large parts of the country including the capital Sanaa.

Geranmayeh said, the incident “exposed to a global audience” the existence of “factions from the hardline camp that support these orchestrated mob attacks” in the country.