Hassan Rouhani: The Attack by Extremists on the Saudi Embassy is an Insult to the Regime

Following the attack by a group of protesters on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad after the announcement of Sheikh Nimr's execution, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, condemned the execution of this Shia cleric, while stating that the attacks by the aforementioned protesters are "in no way justifiable" and are "an insult to the regime." In a statement released on the government news site on Sunday, January 3, Rouhani said: "The actions taken by a group of extremist individuals last night in Tehran and Mashhad, which led to damage to the embassy and consulate of Saudi Arabia — which must be protected under the Islamic Republic of Iran — are in no way justifiable and are primarily an insult to the regime and a blow to the reputation of the Islamic Republic of Iran." The Iranian President emphasized that "all officials of the regime are determined to seriously confront these acts of lawlessness and criminal behavior." Rouhani further stated: "Therefore, I ask the Minister of Interior to work with the esteemed Judiciary and the esteemed Ministry of Intelligence and with complete determination to identify the perpetrators of this attack and to bring them to justice so that such disgraceful acts can be permanently ended and the complete security of diplomatic missions of governments in the Islamic Republic of Iran is guaranteed." On Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed 47 opposition prisoners, including Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in the country. Some of those executed were prisoners linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, and Reuters reports that Saturday's executions were a warning that the Saudi kingdom would not tolerate any attacks from either the Shia minority or Sunni jihadists. Following the announcement of this news, a protest gathering was held in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, and according to Tehran police, some "self-styled individuals" entered the embassy and caused damage to the building. Meanwhile, reports indicate that despite the heavy presence of police forces, protesters in Mashhad also attacked the Saudi consulate by throwing stones and incendiary materials. Additionally, according to IRNA, Hossein Zolfaqari, the Deputy Minister of Interior for Security and Law Enforcement, stated on Sunday that diplomatic locations and their staff were "completely secure" and mentioned that during the confrontation with those attacking the Saudi embassy in Tehran, several police officers, including three commanders of the force, were injured. Rouhani also described Sheikh Nimr in his Sunday statement as a "mujahid scholar" and called his execution "an inhumane act that is in clear contradiction with human rights and Islamic values," expressing condolences for his "martyrdom." The Iranian President added that there is no doubt that the Saudi government, with this action, has further tarnished its image among countries around the world, especially Islamic countries. He described such actions as "in line with sectarian policies and fueling terrorism and extremism in the region and the world, which in recent years has led to destabilization in the region and the creation of war and conflict." Rouhani then stated that "although the people of Iran, alongside Muslims around the world, strongly condemn this un-Islamic act," they "will not allow this crime to be used by self-styled individuals and groups in the country to carry out illegal acts and defame the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic." Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the Iranian Judiciary, also verbally attacked Saudi Arabia for the execution of Sheikh Nimr while referring to the attack by protesters on Saudi diplomatic locations, stating that "we consider this action unlawful and will deal with those who act unlawfully." According to IRNA, Mohseni Ejei said that the rulers of Al Saud "will be afflicted with divine punishment in this world and the hereafter," but added that "everything we do inside the country must be in accordance with the law and based on established legal standards." 40 individuals were arrested in connection with the attack on Saudi diplomatic locations. Shortly before Rouhani's statement was released, the Tehran prosecutor announced the arrest of 40 individuals in this regard. At the same time, a protest is scheduled to be held on Sunday in Palestine Square in Tehran in protest against Sheikh Nimr's execution. According to Fars News Agency, on Sunday, January 3, Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi, the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor, stated that in reference to the gathering on Saturday evening in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the attack by some individuals on the building, 40 individuals who played a role in entering the embassy building have been identified and arrested, and investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved in this incident. The Tehran prosecutor's office has also issued a judicial order to identify and arrest other individuals in this regard. Before the announcement of the arrest of these 40 individuals, Hossein Sajedi Nia, the commander of the Tehran police, reported the arrest of some "self-styled individuals" in this context early on Sunday. Tasnim News Agency reported that police "dispersed the protesters at 1:30 AM on Sunday." This news agency also claimed that the gathering in front of the Saudi embassy was held with "legal permits." In response to these attacks, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while again condemning the execution of Sheikh Nimr, called the assault on diplomatic locations and the Saudi embassy unlawful and condemned it, urging protesters not to gather in front of these locations. On Saturday, shortly after the very harsh verbal attacks by Iranian religious, political, and military officials against Saudi Arabia and the summoning of the Saudi chargé d'affaires in Tehran to protest Sheikh Nimr's execution, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires, calling these statements interference in its internal affairs and reminding the Iranian government of its responsibility to protect its diplomatic locations and staff in Iran. The Tabnak website reported that the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs threatened to sever diplomatic relations with Tehran following the summoning of the Iranian ambassador in Saudi Arabia to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. After reports in this regard, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied this news. In the latest reactions to Sheikh Nimr's execution, Ayatollah Khamenei also attacked Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning, stating that "the hand of divine revenge will seize the Saudi officials." According to Reuters, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, a prominent Shia religious authority in Iraq, also condemned Sheikh Nimr's execution in a statement, calling it "an unjust transgression." Additionally, the Islamic Propaganda Organization announced that on Sunday, the seminaries in Qom will be closed, and a protest gathering will be held at the Grand Mosque of Qom and Shah Cheragh in Shiraz. Fars News Agency also reported that the student Basij of 14 universities has called for a gathering on Sunday in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. The Tehran Governor's Office, in a statement on Sunday, while strongly condemning Sheikh Nimr's execution, deemed the gathering in front of the Saudi embassy and other diplomatic locations as unlawful and simultaneously announced that an official protest gathering will be held in Palestine Square in Tehran in the afternoon, where protesters can express their objections. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, also expressed "deep discontent" on Sunday regarding the execution of Sheikh Nimr and 46 others in Saudi Arabia, calling for "maintaining calm and restraint" and urging all regional leaders to work to prevent the escalation of sectarian tensions. According to the spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon also stated that there are serious concerns regarding "the fairness of the charges against these individuals and the proceedings, trials, and convictions against them." The Secretary-General of the United Nations had previously urged Saudi Arabia to refrain from executing Sheikh Nimr. The United States and the European Union have also expressed concern over Sheikh Nimr's execution.