Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Iran Retreats and Dismissals Follow in Succession | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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The Saudi embassy in Tehran burns after it was broken into (AP)


The Saudi embassy in Tehran burns after it was broken into (AP)

The Saudi embassy in Tehran burns after it was broken into (AP)

As international condemnation of the attacks that targeted the Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad continues, Iran’s stance continues to retreat; the authorities were forced to abandon plans to name streets after Nimr Al-Nimr and a second security official was dismissed in two days.

The Saudi council of ministers led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz expressed its condemnation of the attack, destruction, burning and looting of the Kingdom’s embassy in Tehran and the general consulate in Mashhad. It also pointed out that these attacks on the diplomatic missions “come after statements by the hostile Iranian regime that form a blatant incitement that encourages attacks on the Kingdom’s missions and represents an obvious violation of all international agreements, charters and treaties”. The council also expressed its appreciation of the various “Islamic, Arab and friendly” countries and international and Arab organisations, parliaments and bodies that have expressed their support for the decisions and measures taken by Saudi Arabia to combat terrorism.

According to Iranian news agencies, the Iranian foreign ministry objected to the decision of the municipal councils of Tehran and Mashhad to name two streets close to the Saudi embassy and consulate after Nimr Al-Nimr and ordered that the previous names of the two streets be reinstated. The news agencies also revealed the intervention of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and the foreign ministry in the matter of renaming the streets of the diplomatic missions and clarified that the municipal council of Tehran is not able to change the name of the streets of the diplomatic missions without consulting the Supreme Council for National Security and the ministry of foreign affairs.

Meanwhile, more than 224 representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) issued a statement criticising the attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate yesterday based on the fact that the attacks harmed the interests of Iran internationally.

Observers expect more dismissals in the security forces in Tehran after two security officials were dismissed against the backdrop of attacks on Saudi diplomatic interests. The commander of special forces for the Iranian police Hassan Arab Surkhi was dismissed the day before yesterday and this comes two days after the dismissal of Safar Ali Bratlo, a security official in the governorate of Tehran.