Iran tells UN envoy that row with Saudis won’t derail Syria talks

Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi urged member countries to adopt a strong and clear common position, calling on Iran to stop all forms of interference in the affairs of Arab nations.

In a statement, the six countries “strongly denounced” the sacking of the Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran by demonstrators angered over its execution of prominent Shi’ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

After a mob in Tehran attacked the Saudi embassy, the government in Riyadh severed diplomatic and some commercial ties, and several allies followed suit.

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

Many experts don’t expect a direct conflict between the two Middle East superpowers, but it’s likely the proxy wars they’re fighting in Yemen, Syria and Iraq will intensify.

Shi’ite activists in eastern Saudi Arabia sought to distance themselves from the Qatif attack, saying it could discredit peaceful protests that had been taking place in the area since Nimr’s execution.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming has called on Iran and Saudi Arabia to remain patient amid strained bilateral relations, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Monday.

“Saudi Arabia’s approach is to create tension meant to negatively affect the Syrian crisis”, Zarif said in a statement.

“The Saudi foreign minister assured me that there would be no impact from their point of view”.

He said an emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers has been summoned in Jeddah where Pakistan would present important proposals to reduce Iran-Saudi tensions.

“The Kingdom is looking at additional measures to be taken, if Iran continues with its belligerent policies”, said Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.

Saudi Arabia and Iran had joined global talks launched in Vienna past year that backed an 18-month plan to end the conflict and foresees further talks on January 25.

Iran understands the developments in the region and moves in line with them seeking to de-escalate tensions, the Iranian spokesman said.

For his part, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in an opinion piece in The New York Times, stressed Iran’s determination to deal with the attackers.