Iran-Saudi relations

Iran Seizes Saudi Fishing Vessels, Arrests 9 Sailors

Zero Hedge,

26 November, 2013

It didn't take long to escalate Iran-Saudi relations, or the lack thereof, following this weekend's nuclear (non) deal. Moments ago Iran's Fars news agency reported that Iran’s coast guards have seized two Saudi fishing vessels after they entered the Islamic Republic's territorial waters, a provincial official announced on Wednesday. “Yesterday, the coast guards deployed in the country’s Southern waters came to spot two vessels in Iran’s protected waters in the South using electronic and optic tools and equipment,” Commander of Bushehr province Coast Guards Qalandar Lashkari said. He said that the Iranian coast guards rushed to the scene and were faced with two vessels which were illegally fishing in the Iranian waters under the Saudi flag.

It was not immediately clear if, as in the case of China's air defense zone, the US promptly decided to drive a battleship in Iran's territorial waters, just because it can. However, the Saudi response will certainly be just as acute.

Noting that 9 sailors were arrested thereafter, Lashkari said further investigation showed that the 9 people are nationals of different countries.

Also earlier this year, forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s second naval zone seized another Saudi vessel and its four-strong crew after it illegally entered Iranian waters. The vessel was later expelled.

In a relevant event on January 3, Saudi Arabia detained 21 Iranian nationals who were aboard two boats near al-Harqus Island 42 miles (78 km) off the Saudi coast, the Saudi border guard said.

We may need before an Israeli boat is arrested, and mysteriously blows up, before the middle-east returns to its wild type irrational, militant state.

Allies ask Netanyahu not to undermine Iran deal without credible 'plan B'

Israeli Prime Minister's insistence that his country doesn't have to go along with the deal has got short shrift from Britain's top diplomat. William Hague has warned Binyamin Netanyahu against undermining what was achieved in Geneva.