Saudi mission attacks in Iran are ‘unacceptable’, says Oman

Saudi Arabia is a mainly Sunni power while Shia Muslims are in the majority in Iran.

Supporters of Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr protest against the execution of Shi’ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, during a demonstration in Najaf, Iraq January 4, 2016.

Expressing “deep concern” over the attacks, the council “called on the Iranian authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel and to respect fully their worldwide obligations in this regard”.

Saudi Arabia is the homeland of Sunni Islam, while Iran is the champion of the Shia branch of the religion.

Oman on Wednesday said it regretted the “unacceptable” attacks on Saudi missions in Iran but did not announce any measures against the Islamic republic, after some Gulf nations downgraded diplomatic ties.

Al-Nimr was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday over terrorism-related charges.

Several Saudi allies have followed the kingdom’s lead and scaled back or cut diplomatic ties to Iran.

Petra on Wednesday quoted the Jordanian Foreign Ministry as saying that the attacks on the diplomatic missions “constitute a flagrant violation of global conventions”.

Speaking to Doha News, a Qatar Airways spokesperson said that it had no information regarding the suspension of flights to and from the three Iranian cities the airline flies to, adding that travelers can still book tickets to Tehran, Mashhad and Shiraz online. His execution sparked protests by Shiites across the world, including in Iraq, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Iran. It has faced low-level unrest since 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests by Shiites seeking more political rights. Indeed, the latest tensions have prompted fears of a region-wide sectarian conflict, but they also complicate USA efforts to forge a global coalition against the Islamic State group in the region.

Saudi Arabia’s severance of diplomatic relations with Tehran will not hurt Iran or damage its development, government spokesperson Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said on Tuesday.

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Who was leading Saudi Shia cleric? Iran has disowned the attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy, Reuters reports and has suggested that foreigners may have been responsible.

The ministry says it has recalled its acting ambassador to Iran and ordered Iranian diplomats to leave Somalia within 72 hours.