Qatar wedges in Saudi-Iranian diplomatic rift
Khaled
al-Attiyah, Qatari Foreign Affairs Minister © Thomas Hartwel /
Reuters
Qatar
has recalled its ambassador to Tehran, becoming the latest
contributor to a growing Saudi-Iranian rift over the killing of Saudi
Shiite leader Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in the kingdom’s latest mass
executions and subsequent violent protests in Iran.
“Qatari
Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled today Qatar's Ambassador to
Tehran following the attacks on the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia in Tehran and general consulate in Mashhad,” said
Director of Asian affairs department at the Qatari foreign ministry,
Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Hama.
Foreign Ministry Recalls its Ambassador in #Tehran: http://bit.ly/1MTCE3F
Qatar
has also handed over a protest note to the Iranian embassy in Doha,
over the attacks that according to a foreign ministry statement
constitute a “violation
of the international charters and norms that emphasize the protection
of diplomatic missions and their staff.”
Sheikh
Nimr was among 47 people beheaded or shot by firing squad across
Saudi Arabia on Saturday – the largest number of individuals
executed in a single day since 1980. The Shiite cleric’s death
sparked massive outcry across theShiite Muslim world with
demonstrations igniting in many countries in the region.
The
historic Saudi Arabian foe in the region, Iran, where over 90 percent
are Shiite, held massive demonstrations with protesters storming and
setting fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran in addition to the
kingdom’s consulate in the second city, Mashhad.
Following
the assault on the Saudi diplomatic mission, Saudi Arabia immediately
severed ties with Tehran, uniting Sunni Arab allies in the region
against Iran. Kuwait, Bahrain and Sudan have also recalled their
ambassadors from the Islamic Republic.
The
United Arab Emirates downgraded relations with Iran. Jordan summoned
Tehran’s envoy to protest the attacks on Saudi missions. Even the
tiny African nation of Djibouti, joined in with the regional tensions
and has halted diplomatic ties with Tehran.
“Djibouti
cut its diplomatic ties with Iran out of solidarity with Saudi
Arabia,” Djiboutian
Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said on Wednesday.
As
Iranian diplomats from Riyadh and its consulate in Jeddah flew home
Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on
Saudi Arabia to stop confronting Iran.
“This
trend of creating tension must stop. We need to stand united ... and
stop those who are adding fuel to the fire,” he
said.
Zarif
said that Saudi Arabia has been “opposing” Iran’s
diplomacy in the region for the last for two-and-a-half years,
accusing Riyadh of “taking
measures against the Iranian people” by
artificially keeping the oil prices low and opposing the historic
nuclear agreement.
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