Saudi Arabia to Trial Four Iranians on Charges of Espionage and Terrorism

Reports from Saudi media indicate that four Iranian citizens will be tried in the country on charges of 'espionage' and 'terrorism.' On Friday, January 8, the French news agency quoted the 'Arab News' newspaper, stating that one of these four individuals is accused of 'espionage' while the other three are charged with 'terrorism.' The newspaper did not provide further details about these individuals. The 'Saudi Gazette' also published this news without additional details, noting that these four were arrested in 2013 and 2014. This news comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and Riyadh following the execution of 'Nimr Baqir al-Nimr,' a Shiite cleric critical of the Saudi government. Following harsh verbal attacks from Iranian religious, political, and military officials against Saudi Arabia, as well as attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad on January 1, Riyadh severed its diplomatic and economic relations with Tehran. On Friday, January 8, nearly a week after the attacks on Saudi diplomatic locations in Tehran and Mashhad, which included setting parts of them on fire, Mohammad Emami Kashani and Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leaders of Tehran and Mashhad, described these attacks as contrary to the 'interests of the system' and accused 'infiltrators and ignorant individuals' or even Saudi Arabia itself of being involved in these attacks. Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, stated, 'In recent events, the evil Saudi government sought excuses and ignited a fire within its own embassy.' Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the execution of Sheikh Nimr and labeled the attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate as the work of 'rogue and extremist' elements, calling for the judiciary to expedite the handling of this case and punish the 'instigators and perpetrators.' On the other hand, in response to the attacks on its diplomatic sites, Saudi Arabia not only severed its diplomatic and economic relations with Iran but also reported these attacks to the United Nations Security Council, resulting in a condemnation statement against Iran. The country also called on its allies to respond, which has so far led to the severing of relations by Sudan, Somalia, Bahrain, Djibouti, and the Comoros with Iran, the summoning of ambassadors from Qatar and Kuwait, and the downgrading of relations by the United Arab Emirates with Tehran to the level of chargé d'affaires. Jordan also summoned the Iranian ambassador in Amman to its Foreign Ministry. Additionally, as part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to condemn Iran, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council are set to hold emergency meetings on Saturday and Sunday, January 19 and 20. The 'Arab News' reported on Thursday, quoting Abdulatif al-Zayani, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, that the emergency meeting of this council will be held on Saturday in Riyadh, chaired by Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Foreign Minister. According to the same newspaper, Ahmad bin Helli, Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab League, stated that the extraordinary meeting of the league will also be held at the request of Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Cairo to discuss this issue. The Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League had previously condemned the attacks on Saudi diplomatic sites in Iran, calling them a violation of international conventions.