Zarif's Letter to Ban: We Have Repeatedly Messaged That We Are Ready to Talk to Saudi Arabia

In the ongoing tensions between Riyadh and Tehran, Iran's Foreign Minister has stated in a letter to the UN Secretary-General that since the inauguration of Hassan Rouhani's government, clear and hidden messages have been sent to Riyadh indicating that Iran is ready for dialogue. He asserts that Saudi Arabia must choose between stability in the region or sectarian hatred. Mohammad Javad Zarif, in his letter to Ban Ki-moon, mentions that since Hassan Rouhani took office, both he and the Iranian President have sent clear and hidden messages to Saudi Arabia that Tehran is 'ready to engage in interactions that lead to regional stability and counter the extremist violence that causes instability.' The Iranian Foreign Minister further accuses the Saudi government of opposing the nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers, supporting extremists who have committed 'terrorist acts,' and exacerbating a 'futile war' in Yemen. These accusations come at a time when Iran itself is accused of supporting armed groups in countries like Syria or Lebanon. Some Arab leaders have repeatedly accused Tehran of attempting to destabilize the region, including through support for the Houthis in Yemen. Mr. Zarif states in his letter to the UN Secretary-General that Saudi Arabia must make a 'vital choice' between regional stability or continuing support for extremist groups. He claims Tehran has 'no desire or interest in tensions in its neighborhood.' Following the severance of relations with Iran, the Saudi government recently announced it would prosecute four Iranian citizens on charges of 'espionage' and 'terrorism.' The charge of 'terrorism' was what led to the execution of dozens of Saudi citizens on January 1, including the execution of Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric. His execution was met with harsh threats from Iranian Revolutionary Guards officials, and shortly afterward, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, stated that 'the hand of divine revenge will seize the Saudi officials.' Shortly after the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a group of individuals, whom police officials described as 'self-styled,' attacked the Saudi consulate in Mashhad and set part of the Saudi embassy in Tehran on fire. Riyadh and a group of its allies severed relations with Tehran. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the attack on Saudi diplomatic sites. Other government officials have also stated they are seeking those responsible for this attack. In his letter to the UN Secretary-General, the Iranian Foreign Minister also referred to other issues; he criticized the speeches of Saudi government clerics against Shia, the damage to Iran's economy, or the attack on the Iranian embassy in Yemen. A group of Iranian Shia clerics has also been accused of making harsh statements against Sunni leaders, and similar accusations have been made against the Iranian government. Saudi Arabia has denied the attack on the Iranian embassy in Yemen. Mr. Zarif also stated that despite all the 'provocations,' Iran has refrained from 'retaliation' or even reducing diplomatic relations with Riyadh. Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have faced tensions both before and after the 1979 revolution, and in some cases, they have been severed for years. Currently, in many regional crises, Riyadh and Tehran find themselves on opposing sides; the Syrian civil war, with hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, is one of the most significant. Western officials have called for a reduction of tensions between the two countries, and some countries like Iraq or Russia have also expressed their willingness to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh.