Iran: Unlike Saudi Arabia, We Are Not Seeking to Create Tensions

Hosseini Jaberi Ansari, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, stated on Saturday, January 19, that "the war of embassies will not benefit Saudi Arabia," adding that Tehran is not seeking to create tensions unlike Riyadh. According to IRNA, Hosseini Jaberi Ansari, in a television program 'Negah Yek,' emphasized that "what Saudi Arabia seeks is to create tensions and crises," and noted that "when Saudi Arabia's analysis is that it is seeking to create tensions, it is natural that the Islamic Republic feels itself in opposition to it." The spokesperson stated, "The Islamic Republic is not seeking to create tensions and defines its policies accordingly. Our policies are exactly opposite to those of Saudi Arabia, and as they define their policies based on war on all fronts, we are exactly in opposition to that." Following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, along with 46 others, protesters in Tehran attacked the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad, damaging parts of them. In response, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran. Subsequently, several Arab countries, including Bahrain and Sudan, cut ties with Tehran, while others in the region reduced their level of relations. Jaberi Ansari further stated, "Our public's concerns are valid, and these concerns and grievances have arisen for us, and this reaction should be in a direction that nullifies the sorcery of Saudi Arabia's actions. Therefore, while we must address the emotional needs of public opinion, we should not change our policies and align ourselves in a way that meets Saudi Arabia's needs." In response to a question about whether Saudi Arabia would reopen its embassy, he said, "Closing embassies is not a virtue and will not bring any benefit. The war of embassies will not benefit Saudi Arabia, and sooner or later, it will have to accept the surrounding realities." Regarding the possibility of war and conflict between Tehran and Riyadh, Jaberi Ansari said, "Saudi Arabia has defined its strategy to levels of confrontation and direct war in its targeting, but whether other regional and global actors will allow it to continue this path of arson is questionable. Saudi Arabia may feel that a limited war situation would improve its status." He pointed out that Saudi Arabia does not position itself in a constructive role that governments should define but rather defines a destructive role for itself. He added, "We must not allow Saudi Arabia to increase the costs based on destruction for the entire region." Meanwhile, Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince and Minister of Defense, emphasized last week in an interview with The Economist that the ongoing tensions between Riyadh and Tehran would not lead to war. The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, in response to a question about countries that severed relations with Iran alongside Saudi Arabia, stated, "Unfortunately, the Sudanese government has been entangled in a series of crises in recent years, and a significant part of its territory (South Sudan) has experienced fragmentation, and this situation has continued in other regions of Sudan in the Darfur state, and the economic situation of this government is very critical. In this situation, Sudan has been bribed by Saudi petrodollars in the past couple of years and has thought that it needs this assistance to resolve its critical conditions." He added, "We have tried to manage this situation without becoming emotional and have not reacted harshly to Sudan's actions." Jaberi Ansari noted that the international reactions have not aligned with Saudi Arabia, and significant governments in the Islamic world, such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and Turkey, have explicitly emphasized the protection of diplomatic sites but did not respond to what Saudi Arabia wanted (the war of embassies). Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Minister warned on Saturday that if Iran continues its current policies, Saudi Arabia will take "further actions" against Iran. Adel al-Jubeir did not provide further details on the potential additional actions Riyadh might take against Tehran during his speech at the extraordinary meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Saudi Foreign Minister stated that Iran is the source of tension, "not Saudi Arabia or the Cooperation Council. We are monitoring Iran's actions and will counter them."