The Organization of Islamic Cooperation Condemns the Attack on the Saudi Embassy in Iran

On Thursday, February 1, foreign ministers of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a statement condemning the attack on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran and called for Tehran to respect the policy of good neighborliness with its neighbors. Not all members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation voted positively on this statement. The Iranian delegation at the Jeddah meeting also expressed its opposition to this statement. The emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers was held in Jeddah at the request of Saudi Arabia, focusing on the attack last month on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad. The attack on these diplomatic missions, which occurred following the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, led Riyadh and several of its allied countries to sever diplomatic relations with Iran. Last month, the death sentences of 47 individuals convicted in terrorism-related cases were carried out, most of whom were linked to al-Qaeda. Among them were four Shia individuals, one of whom was Nimr al-Nimr. The final statement of the emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers described the attack on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran as a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and international law related to the immunity of diplomatic missions. The statement emphasized that these attacks contradict the OIC charter and the United Nations charter, which call for trust-building, friendly relations, and mutual respect among member countries and the peaceful resolution of tensions. The OIC foreign ministers also condemned what they termed 'provocative positions of Iranian officials regarding the execution of judicial sentences against several perpetrators of terrorism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' considering it 'an open interference in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia and a violation of the United Nations charter and all international charters.' The final statement of the Jeddah meeting further condemned what it termed 'Iran's interference in the internal affairs of regional countries and others, including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia, and Iran's continued support for terrorism.' The OIC supported 'the efforts of Saudi Arabia and all member countries in combating terrorism in all its forms, sources, and objectives.' The statement also affirmed Saudi Arabia's 'legitimate and legal actions' in countering attacks on its diplomatic missions in Iran and expressed support for statements issued in this regard by member countries, the UN Security Council, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The OIC called for a distancing from sectarian and religious policies 'due to their destructive and dangerous effects on the security and stability of member countries and the world' and emphasized 'the improvement of good neighborly relations among member countries.' The OIC foreign ministers called on member countries to take serious steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents against diplomatic missions in Iran and expressed support for all ongoing political efforts aimed at ending tensions among member countries. The Iranian delegation's opposition and abstention from some countries were noted in the final statement of the emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers. Lebanon also announced that it would not vote positively on this statement. Prior to the issuance of the statement, Al Jazeera reported that closed-door sessions of the Jeddah meeting witnessed differing viewpoints among member countries. According to this report, Lebanon insisted on its position of staying away from tensions between Riyadh and Tehran. Meanwhile, Iraq, Algeria, and Indonesia expressed opposing or abstaining views on some clauses of the final statement. The report added that Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir stated in a closed session that his country sought 'a unified Islamic position against Iran's aggressions.' In contrast, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, who headed Tehran's delegation at the Riyadh meeting, stated that Iran sought to de-escalate tensions 'and its presence at the Jeddah meeting was to announce this position.' On the other hand, Iyad Madani, the OIC Secretary-General, at the beginning of the Jeddah meeting, without naming a country, said: 'It is clear that the ongoing crisis in relations among some member countries increases the gaps in the Islamic political body.' He added: 'Political and religious orientations divert us from the true direction that shapes the fate of our countries and peoples. What has occurred in recent days from ugly terrorist operations in several member countries such as Afghanistan, Turkey, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Libya, Mali, etc., urges us to call for cooperation and coordination within the framework of Islamic proximity and to avoid retaliatory actions to eradicate terrorism.' Al-Jubeir: Iran's policies are the main factor of instability in the region. Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, at the opening of the Jeddah meeting, once again harshly criticized Iran's policies in the region. He stated: 'The attack on Saudi diplomatic missions is in line with the aggressive policies of the Iranian regime, continuous interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, provocative actions, and inciting sectarian strife in the region.' Al-Jubeir added: 'These policies are the main factor of instability, crisis, and war in the region. These actions come from a country that, as a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, not only does not respect the charter of this organization but also does not adhere to the principles of the organization derived from our Islamic religion.' The Saudi Foreign Minister referred to recent statements by Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, saying: 'The provocative actions of Iranian rulers have reached a point where they proudly announce that their country dominates four Arab capitals and is training 200,000 fighters in several regional countries. These are clear signs of Iran's current policies regarding neighboring and Arab countries.' The commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on January 12 that 'the positive outcome of regional developments has been the preparation of nearly 200,000 armed young forces in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen.'