Attackers on Saudi Embassy 'Had Years of Religious and Charitable Activities'

The Deputy Security Minister of Iran states that an individual abroad was in charge of directing the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and was giving orders to the attackers via Telegram that day. Hossein Zolfaqari emphasized in a press conference on Thursday, January 21, that the attack on the Saudi embassy was not organized by 'a specific organization or Basij bases.' He mentioned that the leader of the attack has been arrested and transferred to Iran, where he is currently being interrogated. However, Zolfaqari confirmed that the perpetrators acted in an organized manner. Political analyst Morteza Kazemian told Radio Farda that regardless of the nature of the attackers, the consequences of the attack seem to have exceeded the expectations of the think tanks directing it, prompting security agencies to attribute it to foreign influence. Zolfaqari stated that the attackers have been active in charitable and religious activities in Karaj and Tehran for over ten years. The attack by angry individuals on the Saudi embassy, which included setting part of it on fire in the presence of police forces, occurred after the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia sparked a wave of anti-Saudi sentiment in Iranian media, and the Supreme Leader verbally attacked Saudi Arabia. According to ISNA, Zolfaqari mentioned that 'some officials in the country—knowingly or unknowingly—supported them.' He added that they had received information about some planning, stating, 'We even said to prohibit gatherings in front of the embassy, but they assured us everything would be fine, while we said we were not reassured.' The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized on Wednesday that the 'faithful and Hezbollah youth' should not be attacked under the pretext of the assault on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and Mashhad. Kazemian believes that Khamenei's remarks were significant, implying that the attackers were connected to the leadership or at least various institutions, including the security section of the IRGC. At the same time, Khamenei distanced himself from the attack while trying to protect the attackers from subsequent pressures and consequences, allowing them some leeway ahead of the upcoming elections. The Deputy Security Minister of Iran, without providing more details about the attackers and groups involved, announced that a report covering all aspects of the incident is being prepared for the Supreme Leader. In related news, the Tehran prosecutor announced that three main suspects in the attack on the Saudi embassy have been arrested.