Kuwait recalls Iran envoy over Saudi embassy attack
Flames rise from Saudi Arabia's embassy during a demonstration in Tehran January 2, 2016. (Reuters)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya News Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Iran on Tuesday, state news agency KUNA reported, after Gulf Arab allies Saudi Arabia and Bahrain severed relations with Tehran following attacks on Saudi missions by Iranian protesters.
"An official source at the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said that the ministry recalled the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tuesday morning Jan. 5 2016, against the backdrop of the attacks carried out by crowds of demonstrators," the agency reported.
The protests followed Saudi Arabia's execution of
Shite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.
Bahrain decided to cut ties with Iran on Monday and gave Iranian envoys 48 hours to leave the kingdom, expressing similar sentiments to that of Saudi Arabia when it accused Tehran of interfering in the affairs of regional countries and giving safe haven to terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda.
Sudan also decided to expel Iran’s ambassador from Khartoum and denounced Iran’s interference in the region.
Meanwhile, the
UAE on Monday downgraded Iran’s diplomatic representation and cut the number of envoys allowed on its soil.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League on Sunday
expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s ongoing fight against “terrorism.”
The six-member regional bloc’s secretary general Abdullatif al-Zayani said that the GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi, “stands side by side” with Riyadh, holding Iran as responsible.
His remarks came after Tehran lashed out at Riyadh for the executions of 47 people, include Shiite preacher Nimr.
Early Sunday, Saudi’s embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad were attacked by Iranian protesters in reaction to Nimr’s death.
The Gulf states have long-accused Tehran of meddling in their affairs.
(With Reuters and AFP)
Last Update: Tuesday, 5 January 2016 KSA 12:25 - GMT 09:25
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UNSC condemns attack on Saudi embassy in Iran
The United Nations headquarters is lit up in blue to honor the 70th anniversary of the United Nations in New York, October 23, 2015. (Reuters)
AFP, United Nations Tuesday, 5 January 2016
The U.N. Security Council on Monday strongly condemned an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad by angry protesters.
The statement by the 15-member council made no mention of the execution of Nimr al-Nimr and called on Iran to protect diplomatic personnel and property.
Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday after protesters ransacked and set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad.
“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran, and its Consulate General in Mashhad in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in intrusions into the diplomatic and consular premises, causing serious damage,” said the council statement.
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 international obligations in this regard.”
Council members urged the sides to “maintain dialogue and take steps to reduce tensions in the region.”
Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi had earlier urged the council to “take all appropriate measures to ensure the inviolability of diplomatic facilities and the protection of all Saudi diplomats in Iran.”
Riyadh also defended the execution of 47 men including Nimr, saying in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that they were “granted fair and just trials without any consideration to their intellectual, racial or sectarian affiliation.”
International fears were growing that the Saudi-Iranian rift would derail peace efforts in Syria and Yemen and two U.N. envoys were dispatched to Riyadh to keep diplomatic gains afloat.
However, Mouallimi said there was not cause for concern as Saudi Arabia saw no “effect” to the break with Iran on Yemen and Syria.
“From our side, it should have no effect because we will continue to work very hard to support the peace efforts in Syria and Yemen,” Mouallimi told reporters.
Last Update: Tuesday, 5 January 2016 KSA 07:47 - GMT 04:47
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