U.S. Hopes for Saudi Embassy Reopening in Tehran

A senior U.S. State Department official stated in a phone interview with Reuters on Friday, February 21, that Washington hopes Saudi Arabia will reopen its embassy in Tehran. This expression of hope comes as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is set to visit Riyadh. Following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric, along with 46 others in Saudi Arabia, several individuals in Tehran attacked the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad, causing damage to these diplomatic sites. According to Reuters, the U.S. official emphasized that it is 'important' for Iran's leader to condemn the attack on the Saudi embassy. The official added, 'I hope this issue will create a possibility for resolving the situation and that the Saudis will find a process to reopen their embassy in Tehran.' This remark refers to recent statements by Ali Khamenei, who said, 'Yes, the Saudi embassy, and even the British embassy, which had an incident a few years ago, I was upset about; such operations are completely unacceptable; they are very bad operations, harmful to the country, Islam, and everyone.' The U.S. official also clarified that Washington does not intend to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh as it has no diplomatic relations with Iran. However, he noted that John Kerry had emphasized the need for a conciliatory approach between both sides during his meetings with the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia, and Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, also discussed this with Saudi officials during his recent trip to Riyadh. Nawaz Sharif, who traveled to Tehran immediately after his visit to Riyadh, explained the outcomes of these trips, stating that both countries welcomed Pakistan's mediation. Iran and Saudi Arabia accuse each other of creating tension and instability in the Middle East. According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia views Iran's support for Shia groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen as a threat to its security. Moreover, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, has stated in several interviews over the past month that diplomatic relations with Iran will not be established until the country changes its behavior. Following the attack on its embassy in Tehran, Saudi Arabia severed its relations with Iran, and subsequently, countries like Sudan and Bahrain also cut ties with Tehran.