Iran faces global wrath over embassy attacks
KUWAIT JOINS GROWING LIST OF COUNTRIES TO DOWNGRADE TIES
Having just emerged from years of international sanctions over its nuclear programme, Iran is facing fresh international isolation after rioters attacked Saudi embassies on Saturday.
The UN Security Council late Monday strongly condemned an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran by rioters angered by Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.
The statement by the 15-member council, which called on Iran to protect diplomatic personnel and property, made no mention of the execution of Shaikh Nimr Al Nimr.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday after protesters ransacked and set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashad.
Expressing “deep concern” over the attacks, the council “called on 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.”
In a letter to the UN Security Council, Iran’s mission at the United Nations vowed to “take necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future.”
Meanwhile, Kuwait became the latest in a growing list of Saudi Arabian allies to cut or downgrade ties with Iran, saying yesterday that it had recalled its ambassador to Tehran in solidarity with the kingdom.
Bahrain and Sudan joined Saudi Arabia in severing diplomatic ties with Iran on Monday, and the United Arab Emirates recalled its ambassador.
Syria talks to continue
Following Saudi Arabia’s suit, Bahrain also banned flights to and from Iran, Al Arabiya TV reported. Around 150 direct flights between Iran and Saudi Arabia carrying thousands of pilgrims every month have been halted, aviation sources said.
Billionaire Saudi Arabian Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal tweeted that he is no longer considering any projects or investments in Iran.
Al Waleed also said he had refused the Iranian ambassador’s request for a meeting and stopped all flights to Iran by the budget carrier Flynas, in which his investment arm Kingdom Holding holds a 34 per cent stake.
The UN special envoy for Syria said Saudi Arabia is determined that tensions with Iran should not derail international talks on Syria, another round of which is scheduled to take place in Geneva this month.
Staffan de Mistura, speaking after he met Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir and the Syrian opposition in Riyadh, said there was a clear determination by the Saudi side that current regional tensions would not have a negative impact on the momentum of the talks and on the continuation of the political process in Geneva.
The diplomatic feud also could become an unwelcome distraction for Washington and its Western allies in the fight against Daesh in Syria and Iraq.
The Obama administration said it hoped Tehran and Riyadh would scale back the hostile rhetoric that has fuelled the worst crisis between the regional rivals in decades.