Iraq tries to mend fences between Saudi Arabia, Iran

Tensions between Saudia Arabia, the Middle East’s main Sunni Muslim state, and Shi’ite Muslim Iran, reached boiling point when Riyadh executed Shi’ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on January 2, 2016.

AL chief Nabil al-Arabi urged the Arab countries to adopt a strong and clear common position and called on Iran to stop interference in the affairs of Arab nations.

Nimr’s execution angered Shi’ites across the Middle East. After protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad, the conservative Sunni kingdom cut diplomatic relations with Shi’ite Iran. He said Pakistan attached great importance to the security of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Sharif made the remarks in a statement after Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman met with him in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital.

The council also condemned Iran’s blatant interferences in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia, particularly the Iranian government’s hostile and provocative statements on the sentences carried out by Saudi Arabia against a number of persons convicted by Saudi courts of terrorism. Zarif wrote that he and President Hassan Rouhani had shown readiness to engage in negotiations with the Saudi authorities to promote security and stability in the region and combating extremism.

Sartaj Aziz, while briefing the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee, said that all matters between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had been settled.

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”.

On Sunday Zarif accused Saudi Arabia of using its row with Tehran to “negatively affect” peace talks on the Syrian conflict.

The two leaders agreed to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and deepen the cooperation in all fields, including defence, security, fight against terrorism, trade and investment and manpower requirements of the Kingdom, said a press release.

“I think mostly it’s going to be very important for Western actors to recognise the need to strike a balanced approach in this escalation”, Geranmayeh said.