Saudi Arabia Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Poisoning of Its Citizens

On Tuesday, June 9, the Saudi Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh due to the death of four of its citizens from poisoning in the city of Mashhad. The Iranian news agency IRNA reported on Monday that 33 Shia pilgrims from Saudi Arabia were poisoned on Sunday in Mashhad. Another Iranian news agency quoted responsible officials stating that this poisoning was apparently accidental and due to a failure to adhere to hygiene standards at the hotel where these individuals were staying. Four children lost their lives due to this poisoning, and 28 others were hospitalized. Iranian officials say that five hotel staff members have been arrested. In its statement on Tuesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said: "The Iranian government must quickly conduct the necessary investigations to uncover the reasons for this incident and allow representatives of the Saudi government to closely monitor the medical condition of the sick individuals and provide them with the necessary facilities and coverage." Mashhad, which houses the shrine of the eighth Imam of Shia Islam, is a significant pilgrimage destination for followers of this faith, with millions of Shia pilgrims traveling to Mashhad annually. A significant minority of the population in Saudi Arabia is Shia. The relationship of this minority with the ruling political and religious system in Saudi Arabia has always been tense, and some Saudi government and religious officials accuse the Shia of being loyal to or following the Iranian government. Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have become strained due to crises and wars in various parts of the Middle East, and it seems that both sides have exacerbated the religious aspect of these tensions between the Sunni and Shia poles in the region through their direct or indirect interventions. Both countries accuse each other of creating instability in the region.