Tehran Prosecutor: Three Main Suspects of the Attack on the Saudi Embassy Arrested

Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, stated on January 18 that "three main and key suspects" involved in the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran have been arrested. The reports published by Iranian news agencies, citing Mr. Dolatabadi, did not provide details or identities of the detainees. The Tehran prosecutor mentioned that "detailed investigations have been conducted on these suspects so far." It is unclear when these three individuals were arrested. Previously, the head of Tehran's police had stated that several individuals involved in the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran had been arrested, but it is not known whether these "three main suspects" were among those detained. A week ago, the Tehran prosecutor's information base announced, quoting Mr. Dolatabadi, that "identification, arrest, and investigation of suspects are ongoing." However, the Tehran prosecutor said on Tuesday that "in recent weeks, arrests have become more targeted, and lists related to this matter have also been identified." The attack on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, has created new tensions in relations between Riyadh and Iran. Saudi Arabia and several of its allies have severed diplomatic relations with Iran. The President of Iran condemned the attack on diplomatic missions. On the other hand, the commander of the Basij in Iran stated that "the U.S. was behind the attack on the embassy." However, Ali Motahari, a conservative member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, named the police as the "main culprit" in the embassy attack and said this institution should be held accountable for an event that benefited Saudi Arabia. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, verbally attacked Riyadh following the execution of Sheikh Nimr. He has not yet reacted to the attack on Saudi diplomatic missions.