Iran to Announce Results of Probe into Attacks on Saudi Missions: Deputy FM
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the country plans to announce the results of its investigation into attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashahd in the near future.
Addressing an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Araqchi touched upon Iran’s measures regarding the attacks on Saudi diplomatic buildings in Tehran and Mashhad and said "the Islamic Republic, which condemns the incidents, has started a detailed investigation to identify and prosecute the culprits behind the attacks."
He further made assurances that the results of the investigation will be announced soon.
However, the Iranian diplomat added, it is unfortunate that the OIC immediately reacted to such incidents (attacks on Saudi missions in Iran) and held an extraordinary meeting, while it is for more than a year that Palestine has called for holding such meeting to raise the issue of attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque by the Zionist regime of Israel and the OIC has ignored the request.
Earlier on Thursday, OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani, a Saudi, warned against widening sectarian tensions, saying the attacks against Saudi Arabia's diplomatic missions had "breached diplomatic norms".
In the early hours of January 3, angry demonstrators attacked Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran in protest at Riyadh’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
Iran's police arrested those identified as being involved in the attack and President Hassan Rouhani condemned the move afterwards.
However, the Saudi foreign ministry announced it was cutting diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic following the angry protests.
Although Iranian officials condemned the embassy attack and police arrested dozens involved, Riyadh cut off its diplomatic relations with Tehran.
