Adel al-Jubeir: Cutting Relations with Iran Does Not Include Hajj

One day after announcing the severance of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, explained that this severance includes the end of all commercial relations and the cancellation of flights between the two countries, but does not include the issue of Iranian pilgrims traveling for Hajj. Al-Jubeir, speaking at a press conference on Monday, January 4, also added that the Saudi government has decided to prohibit all Saudi citizens from traveling to Iran. In this regard, diplomatic sources told AFP that about eighty Saudi citizens, including diplomats and their families, left Iran for Dubai on Monday. These decisions by the Saudi government come after the execution of a prominent Shia cleric named Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, which provoked strong protests from Iran; an act that Saudi Arabia considers Iranian interference in its internal affairs. Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Minister said in an interview with Reuters on Monday that Iranian pilgrims are still allowed to travel to Mecca and Medina but added that Iran must behave 'like a normal country' and not 'like a revolution' and that Iran must respect international norms to improve relations. On the other hand, according to AFP, it was reported on Monday that the Arab League has also decided to hold an emergency meeting regarding the recent dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This emergency meeting, requested by Saudi Arabia, will be held in Riyadh and will focus on the attacks by some Iranian protesters on Saudi diplomatic buildings in Tehran and Mashhad that have occurred in recent days. Saudi Arabia has also complained to the United Nations about these attacks; however, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that the Islamic Republic has fulfilled its international obligations. Various Sunni Arab governments have repeatedly accused Tehran of interfering in their internal affairs, and in this regard, Adel al-Jubeir also stated on Monday that 'Iran's history is full of negative interference and hostility regarding Arab issues.' Bahrain has also accused Iran of 'flagrant and dangerous interference' in Arab countries' affairs and has asked Iranian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. Reports also indicate that Sudan has strongly condemned the attacks in Iran on Saudi diplomatic buildings and announced its decision to sever relations with Iran. The United Arab Emirates has also announced a reduction in its relations with Iran and has called for a decrease in the number of Iranian diplomats in the UAE. Meanwhile, Russia has urged both Iran and Saudi Arabia to avoid escalating disputes and to exercise restraint. In recent days in Iran, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, in response to the execution of Sheikh Nimr, stated that 'the hand of divine vengeance will seize Saudi officials.' Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, while condemning the execution of Sheikh Nimr, also dedicated part of his speech to denouncing the attacks by 'extremists' on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran, considering these attacks equivalent to 'an insult to the regime.'