GCC condemns attack on Saudi missions in Iran

Date

1/9/2016 9:50:56 PM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Riyadh: The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Ministerial Council voiced strong condemnation and categorical rejection of the attacks against Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad. It blamed Iranian authorities and held them responsible for these acts of terrorism in accordance with its commitment to the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963 and international law which obliges states to protect diplomatic missions.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah participated in the GCC extraordinary ministerial meeting which was held in Riyadh yesterday.

The Council also deplored Iran’s blatant interference in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia after Iran’s inflammatory remarks on the execution of a number of terrorists saying those remarks provoked the attacks on the Saudi missions.

This came in a press statement issued at the end of the meeting yesterday under the chairmanship of Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir.

The Ministerial Council reaffirmed the GCC States’ full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

The Council also urged the international community to take firm steps to avoid any further aggression calling for an end to Iran’s occupation of the UAE’s three islands — Abu Musa Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb.

The statement also referred to Iran’s plot to carry out terrorist blasts in Bahrain after the Kingdom recently unearthed a cell that received support from Iran’s Republican Guard and Hezbollah.

Saudi Arabia may take further measures against Iran after cutting ties with its regional rival this week Al Jubeir said yesterday in a major row over the kingdom’s execution of a Shia cleric.

His comments came in a press conference after the GCC meeting.

“We are looking at additional measures to be taken if it (Iran) continues with its current policies” Jubeir said without elaborating on what these measures could be.

The crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran both major oil exporters started when Saudi Arabia executed Shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr on January 2.

In Iran protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran prompting Riyadh to sever relations. Tehran cut all commercial ties with Riyadh and banned pilgrims from travelling to Makkah.

“The escalation is coming from Iran not from Saudi Arabia or the GCC .... We are evaluating Iran’s moves and taking steps to counter them..things will be clearer in the near future” Jubeir said.

Jubeir also said his country had asked the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation of which Iran is a member to convene an extraordinary meeting to discuss the aggression against its embassy. Iran has said the kingdom is to blame for the diplomatic crisis. In a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon published by Iranian news agencies earlier yesterday Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif complained about Saudi Arabia’s “provocations” towards Tehran.QNA & Reuters

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