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Experts Criticize Halting of Investigations into 2016 Attack against Saudi Diplomatic Missions in Iran | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Flames rise from Saudi Arabia’s embassy during a demonstration in Tehran January 2, 2016. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran early on Sunday morning as Shi’ite Muslim Iran reacted with fury to Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shi’ite cleric. REUTERS/TIMA/Mehdi Ghasemi/ISNA ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY


A number of prominent experts in Iranian affairs strongly denounced and rebuffed the Iranian regime for procrastinating and eventually halting investigations into the 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.

The 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran was a mob action on 2 January 2016 by a crowd of protesters who stormed the embassy in Tehran and another Saudi diplomatic consulate in Mashhad, ransacking offices.

The experts criticized Iranian authorities for rejecting the participation of a Saudi team in the investigation process, considering it a sign that Iran is not serious to chase the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

More so, the experts added that such behavior is not strange, citing the 1979 storming of the American embassy in Tehran, and holding its staff captives for 444 days, the 1987 attack against the Saudi and Kuwaiti embassies respectively, the 1988 attack on the Russian embassy, the 2007 offensive on a Kuwaiti diplomat, the 2009 aggression against the Pakistani embassy, the 2011 attack on the British embassy and the latest attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate general in Mash-had in 2016.

In an expression of good will, Iran be keen on advancing investigations and bring criminals to justice, the Saudi Press Agency cited the experts as saying.

Working under the false banner of revolution, Iran is planning to destabilize the region, added the experts.

They said prolonging the pace of investigations is yet a clear evidence that the Iranian regime is involved in the attack against the Saudi diplomatic missions.

Those gave statements to SPA on the issue include a number of Tunisian politicians, scholars, and media personalities.

They include Chairman of the foreign, political and national security affairs at the Arab parliament Ahmed Al-Mashraqi, President of Tunisian Justice and Development party Abdulrazaq bin Al-Arabi, Shaker Sharfi, a Tunisian academician and politician, and Hasan bin Ali, a Tunisian media man.

Other commentators from Jordan are expert in Iranian-affairs Dr. Nabeel Al-Atoum, and Editor-in-chief Madar Al-Saa (round-the-clock) news agency of Amman, Jordan, Awwad Al-Khalaylah.