Iran's Foreign Ministry: Attack on Saudi Embassy is Inexcusable

Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, rejected the arguments of the letter from the accused of the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, stating that attacks on diplomatic sites are "condemnable and unacceptable" and "cannot be justified by any excuse." In a statement released on Tuesday, August 2, he said that the "attack by reckless and ignorant individuals" on the Saudi embassy in Iran was "in line with the wishes of the enemies of the country, especially the repressive and terrorist-supporting regime of Al Saud." According to Fars News Agency, the spokesperson emphasized: "No sane mind accepts actions that serve the interests of enemies and the Zionist occupiers and child-killers." These remarks from Qasemi were in response to a letter from Hassan Kordmihan, a principlist cleric referred to as the "commander" of the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, addressed to Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran. In the letter published on August 1 on his Telegram channel, Kordmihan wrote that the intention of the protesters in front of the Saudi embassy was the "security" of Iran. He addressed the Iranian President, asking: "Isn't it true that the security of the country is ensured in Homs, Aleppo, and Qatif? And isn't the security of the country tied to the security of Sheikh Nimr, Sheikh Isa Qasim, and Sheikh Zakzaki? And isn't the Israeli regime's gendarme and the American rabid dog that threatens the security of our country and all neighboring countries, as well as the security of all Muslims, the same Al Saud? Therefore, these kids, their enthusiasm, their spontaneous movement... was only for the security of the country." This cleric also denied the accusation of "issuing an order to attack the embassy," stating that after learning about the decision to gather in front of the Saudi embassy through mobile communication channels, he only told some of the protesters, "Now that you want to go, be prepared to get beaten, as the police will certainly take the most measures." He also referred to some incidents that occurred in front of the Saudi embassy, addressing Hassan Rouhani: "The will of the government and your excellency was to punish Saudi Arabia; otherwise, based on what I know of you, I knew that if Hassan Rouhani did not want, no one would be able to approach the embassy from several kilometers away." The attack by dozens of protesters on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad in January 2016 led to the severance of diplomatic relations between that country and several of its allies with Iran. The attack on Saudi diplomatic sites occurred in response to the execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia. The Iranian government expressed regret over this incident, and the judiciary of the Islamic Republic prosecuted several of the attackers. However, Saudi Arabia and some analysts believe that attacks on foreign embassies in Iran are organized by the government. Iran holds the record among 194 countries worldwide for assaults on embassies and diplomatic sites, which are protected under the 1961 Vienna Convention. Attacks on the embassies of Egypt, Morocco, the USA, Denmark, the UK, and Saudi Arabia are among these incidents.