Saudi-Iran tensions diverting attention from ‘real problems’

Muslim group calls for dialogue to restore mutual trust

JEDDAH // Deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran are diverting attention from the “real challenges” facing Muslims, the head of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said yesterday.

Iyad Madani was addressing an extraordinary meeting of the 57-member OIC, called by Saudi Arabia after protesters in Iran burnt its diplomatic missions there this month.

They attacked Riyadh’s embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad after the kingdom executed prominent Shiite cleric Nimr Al Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. The attacks “contradict diplomatic standards” and “interference in the affairs of any member state undermines our organisation’s charter”, said Mr Madani, referring to criticism by Iran’s leaders of Al Nimr’s execution.

“It is clear that the continued deterioration of relations between some of our member states contributes to deepening rifts” among Islamic nations, Mr Madani said.

He said such tensions “distract us from addressing the real challenges”, including terrorism, which threaten members of the organisation.

“It is regretful that the reality of the Islamic division and differences negatively affect the performance of the OIC” and its international credibility, Mr Madani told the group at the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Al Nimr was one of four Shiites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of terrorism.

Saudi Arabia and some of its Sunni allies cut diplomatic ties with Shiite Iran as a result of the violence against its missions, causing concern around the world as tensions escalated.

Mr Madani called for “building bridges of understanding and restoring mutual trust” through dialogue.

Iran sacked a senior security official over his failure to stop the attack on Riyadh’s embassy.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said the attack was wrong and against Islam.