Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Saudi FM: Iranian Regime Involved in Attack on Saudi Embassy in Iran | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55355282
Caption:

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir (AFP File Photo)


Riyadh–Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir said that Iranian news over the investigations into the attacks on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and Consulate in Mashhad reveal that the Iranian authorities will not issue tough sentences on the culprits.

Jubeir’s statement came after his meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamlov in his office in Riyadh.

Jubeir did not express surprise to a possible Iranian decision not to issue tough verdicts on the perpetrators, saying: “That’s not strange as more than 12 embassies have been stormed by mobs in Iran over the last 25 years.”

Jubeir welcomed Minister Kamlov, lauding the relations between the two countries. He said that during the meeting bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed as well as means to enhance them.

The Saudi FM added at the press conference that the discussions also tackled the forthcoming ministerial level meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) scheduled to take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

When asked about results of investigations into the attack on the embassy and consulate, Jubeir said the news indicate that no tough punishment awaits the culprits who committed the crime.

“I don’t think, as far as I know, that any of those who committed those criminal acts over the last 25 years were punished. So, I don’t rule out that this act of hostility would go the same way,” he added. “So, this is a clear evidence that this operation is an organized plot supported by the Iranian regime,” Jubeir concluded.

For his part, the Uzbek FM said that Saudi Arabia was among the first states to recognize his country following its independence. He added that diplomatic relations between the two countries are strong in all matters.

FM Kamlov told reporters that the issue of the forthcoming OIC ministerial meeting to be held in October in Tashkent was on the agenda of the talks with his counterpart. He also welcomed Saudi Arabia’s participation in this meeting.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Relation Khalid al-Jindan, Chairman of the Media Department at the Foreign Ministry Ambassador Osama Naqli, Uzbek Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Kadirov Alisher Kadirovich, and other senior officials.