Iran Expresses Readiness to Assist Saudi Arabia After Attack in Mecca

On Saturday, July 3, Iran strongly condemned the suicide attack near the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and expressed its readiness to assist Saudi Arabia in combating 'ignorant haters.' According to the IRNA news agency, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, referred to this attack, stating: 'The failed plot by a number of criminal terrorists to attack the House of God, which was thwarted, once again demonstrated that the rampant and increasing terrorism currently targeting the entire world, the region, and especially Muslims and Islamic countries does not recognize religion, sect, geography, race, or nationality, and can even target the most sacred places of Muslims worldwide to achieve its nefarious goals.' He added: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns terrorism in any form, anywhere, and for any motive, and announces its readiness, as always, to assist other countries in confronting and dealing with these criminals and merchants of death and ignorant haters.' Iran's expression of readiness to help Saudi Arabia against 'criminals' comes at a time when the two countries have been engaged in a broad regional rivalry and have severed diplomatic relations since January. On Friday, while hundreds of thousands of worshippers gathered for religious ceremonies at the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, a suicide bomber detonated himself near the mosque, injuring six foreign pilgrims. The Saudi Ministry of Interior reported that agents arrested five suspects early Friday, preventing a broader 'terrorist' plot in Mecca. The suicide bomber, who was trapped by security forces in an apartment, exchanged fire with them and detonated himself when surrounded. As a result of this explosion, a building collapsed, injuring six foreign pilgrims and five security personnel. The Saudi Ministry of Interior also stated that five suspects, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with this incident. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a series of attacks and bombings. In a suicide attack that occurred in mid-July 2016 in the parking lot adjacent to the Masjid al-Nabi, two Saudi police officers were killed, and three suicide bombers also lost their lives in the attack. On Saturday, the Qatari Foreign Ministry also referred to the suicide attack in Mecca, calling Saudi Arabia a 'brother country' and expressing solidarity with it regarding this incident, despite the severe crisis in relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.