Kerry tries to ease concerns about warning US-Iran relations

The support for the Syrian rebels is only the latest chapter in the decades-long relationship between Saudi spy services and the United States, an alliance that has endured through the Iran-contra scandal, support for the mujahedeen against the Soviets in Afghanistan and proxy fights in Africa.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), grouping Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates condemned the attacks, followed one day later by the Arab League. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protesters there burned Riyadh’s embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad city.

Reacting to al-Nimr’s execution, a group of angry Iranian protestors stormed Saudi embassy in Tehran, smashing furniture and setting fire to the building before being dispersed by police.

On January 23, Kerry expressed confidence that UN-mediated talks on ending the conflict in Syria would go ahead as tentatively scheduled next week in Switzerland.

“Other assumptions are just media speculation and it is natural that if there is an agreement between the two countries in terms of high-level visits, the Foreign Ministry will make it public”, said he.

Both countries have pledged not to let their rivalry affect Syria peace efforts, and US officials say there are no signs the hostility has negatively affected the diplomacy.

Mr. Kerry noted that there are sharp divisions over the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They cast doubt on whether Moscow and Tehran wanted any deal that would involve Assad’s eventual departure. He then travels from Riyadh to Laos, Cambodia and Beijing before returning to Washington, DC.

He said many countries have come forward with mediation offers, which have been dismissed by Riyadh. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

On Saturday, Iran and China agreed to increase trade to $600bn (£420bn) over 10 years. He described the Syrian leader as a “terrorist killing his own people” who was directly kept in power by Tehran, the participants said.

“The message is clear – Iran has to change its policies and have a better relationship with its neighboring countries”.

Iran has acknowledged that officers of its Revolutionary Guards have been killed in Syria, but it denies having a large military presence in the country or participating directly in combat operations.

“There is something that does bring them closer in terms of Syria, and that is called Daesh”, he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.