Saudi Arabia Complains to the UN Security Council Against Iran

While Saudi Arabia has announced that it has complained to the UN Security Council against Iran due to the attack on its embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry states that the Islamic Republic has fulfilled its international obligations. Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, announced at a press conference on Sunday, January 3, that Riyadh has complained to the UN Security Council following the attack by a group in Tehran on the Saudi embassy and consulate. He also announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Tehran and stated that Iranian embassy staff in Riyadh have been given 48 hours to leave Saudi Arabia. Al-Jubeir, whose remarks were published on the Saudi Foreign Ministry's website on Monday, January 4, described the attack on his country's embassy in Tehran as a clear violation of international conventions and stated: "Saudi Arabia has complained to the UN Security Council due to the attack on its embassy in Tehran and has requested guarantees for the safety and security of its diplomatic premises and personnel in Tehran, and has also informed the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation about the matter." Osama Nugali, head of public relations at the Saudi Foreign Ministry, also accused Iranian officials during his press conference of not taking action despite repeated requests for help from the embassy from Saturday morning until Sunday morning. He said: "An hour after the announcement of Sheikh Nimr's execution, the embassy staff in Tehran received several death threats over the phone on Saturday morning, and then at 2:20 PM, a group began to gather in front of the embassy, forcing the chargé d'affaires to immediately inform the Iranian Foreign Ministry and request protection for the embassy, but no action was taken until 9:30 PM Saturday night, at which time another crowd gathered in front of the embassy and around 2:00 AM began throwing stones and incendiary materials at the embassy building and then entered it." On the other hand, Hossein Ali Amiri, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Interior, stated that before the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, the Minister of Interior had given necessary orders to the security deputy of the ministry and the police to "prevent actions that might arise due to the provocation of emotions." According to ISNA news agency on Tuesday, Amiri told Iranian state radio that Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's Minister of Interior, has ordered the identification of "those who ordered, executed, or were negligent in controlling this issue." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned Sheikh Nimr's execution on Sunday, calling the attack on Saudi diplomatic premises an "insult to the regime" and instructed the Minister of Interior to identify and arrest those responsible for the attacks in cooperation with the Ministry of Intelligence and the judiciary. Hossein Ali Amiri, the Ministry of Interior spokesperson, on Tuesday, in response to the question of how successful security forces were in controlling the incidents that occurred on Saturday night, said: "As I said, we had warned in advance, and during these events, the situation progressed in a way that some could not control their emotions and caused damage." He also added: "We are currently reviewing the performance of security forces in managing and controlling these events." Meanwhile, ISNA reported that Hossein Noosh Abadi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, stated in a press conference on Tuesday, January 4, regarding the attack on Saudi diplomatic premises that "the gathering itself was legal, but the assault on embassies and consulates is illegal." In this context, IRNA news agency reported that Hossein Jaberi Ansari, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, also responded on Tuesday to Saudi Arabia's action in severing relations with Tehran by stating that "the incident concerning embassies and representations is not the first occurrence in the world; what is important is that the host government fulfills its legal obligations, and the Islamic Republic of Iran has acted to control the waves of widespread public sentiment and is committed to maintaining the security of diplomatic premises and diplomats according to international conventions." The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry stated regarding the removal of Iranian diplomats after Saudi Arabia's 48-hour deadline that "we are making arrangements for the respectful transfer of our diplomats from Saudi Arabia." He simultaneously emphasized that "the action of the Saudi government occurred when everything was under control and there was no threat to Saudi diplomats, and the Saudi government is more in search of excuses." In response to Saudi Arabia's action in severing relations with Tehran, IRNA also published statements from Eshaq Jahangiri, the first vice president of Iran, on Tuesday, advising Saudi leaders to stop their sabotage and stating: "It is you who will suffer from severing relations with Iran; Iran is a great country, and you must behave with greatness towards greatness." Meanwhile, according to IRNA news agency, Saeed Montazeralmahdi, spokesperson for the police, reported on Tuesday the arrest of 50 of the "leaders of the protesters against the Saudi embassy on site and their transfer to judicial authorities, as well as the injury of several police officers by these individuals."