Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Travels to Saudi Arabia

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of Tuesday, January 29, to attend an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, reported that this extraordinary meeting was convened at the request of the Saudi government to address the issue of attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. This meeting will be at the level of foreign ministers of OIC member countries, but Iran has sent its Deputy Foreign Minister to Jeddah. Following the attacks on its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran. However, Tehran insists that a group of 'rogue' individuals orchestrated these attacks on Saudi diplomatic sites and that they will face judicial action. Meanwhile, several Arab countries have sided with Saudi Arabia, cutting or reducing their diplomatic relations with Tehran, including Bahrain, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported that Abbas Araghchi would consult with the OIC Secretary-General and several other officials attending the meeting. IRNA criticized the holding of this meeting, stating that 'the OIC quickly responded to Saudi Arabia's request while it has not yet acted on Palestine's request made a year ago.' According to this news agency, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, had requested an extraordinary meeting two weeks ago to address the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. Previously, the Arab League condemned these attacks and warned Tehran not to 'interfere' in the internal affairs of Arab countries. Tehran has strongly protested the execution of Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, a Shia cleric, in Saudi Arabia. In this context, Younesi had warned that there would be an attack on the Saudi embassy, while Zarif stated that retaliatory actions against Saudi Arabia play into their hands. Nawaz Sharif proposed mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, while Adel al-Jubeir stated that Saudi Arabia is not on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, but Iran is. Nawaz Sharif noted that Tehran and Riyadh welcomed Pakistan's mediation.