Al-Riyadh Report on Arrest of 3 Iranians; Boroujerdi: It's Fabrication

The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament described the report by Al-Riyadh newspaper regarding the arrest of 3 Iranians in Saudi Arabia as 'clumsy fabrication' on Sunday, July 4. According to ISNA news agency, Aladdin Boroujerdi referred to what he called 'media mischief' and stated that this action was 'aimed at concealing internal disputes among the rulers of Saudi Arabia, especially after the appointment of the new crown prince.' Al-Riyadh newspaper reported on Sunday that 'Saudi security forces arrested 3 Iranians three days before a terrorist operation at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.' The newspaper cited the reason for the arrest of these three Iranians as being related to 'anti-security activities' in Saudi Arabia. However, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission pointed to Mohammed bin Salman's crown prince position in Saudi Arabia and said: 'This is merely media mischief to cover up the disputes among the ruling leaders in Saudi Arabia.' He added: 'The Saudi ruling body has raised this fabrication to divert public opinion, claiming that the terrorist operation at the Grand Mosque was pre-planned. They know that the Grand Mosque holds a special place among Muslims and want to portray it differently through this clumsy fabrication.' Boroujerdi's remarks referred to the suicide bombing on Friday, June 2, near the Grand Mosque in Mecca, which injured 6 foreign pilgrims and 5 security personnel. The Saudi Ministry of Interior stated that security forces arrested 5 suspects early Friday, preventing a broader 'terrorist' plot in Mecca. Reports indicated that the suicide bomber, who was cornered by security forces in an apartment, exchanged fire with them and detonated himself when surrounded, causing the building to collapse. The Saudi Ministry of Interior also reported that five suspects, including a woman, were arrested in this case. Meanwhile, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission did not mention the Al-Riyadh report that 9 Iranians are in Saudi prisons. Previously, the Saudi Ministry of Information had reported the arrest of three members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after their boat approached the Marjan oil platform in the Persian Gulf. The Saudi Ministry of Information also stated that this boat was carrying weapons and its occupants are under interrogation. Iran denied the membership of these individuals, claiming they were fishermen. Iran also accused Saudi forces of killing a fisherman. Relations between the two countries have soured following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and attacks on its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. Both countries accuse each other of interfering in their internal affairs and in regional countries like Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. New accusations from Iran against Saudi Arabia: Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, accused Saudi Arabia on Sunday of 'seeking to establish an operational headquarters aimed at creating insecurity in eastern and western Iran.' According to Mehr news agency, he announced that 'Saudi Arabia has established an operational headquarters in the east' and added that the country is using 'internal elements in the Sistan and Baluchestan region to carry out insecurity and terrorist actions.' Jalali also described what he called 'ethnic, security, political, and religious fault lines' as the basis for the emergence of anti-security actions. Tehran was the scene of attacks on the Parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini on June 17, which resulted in the deaths of at least 17 people. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for these attacks. Since then, Iran's military and security forces have reported the arrest of dozens of individuals, including in eastern and western provinces of Iran. Iran has implicitly accused Saudi Arabia of involvement in these attacks, but Riyadh has denied it.