Iraq suggests to mediate, worried over domino effect
Iraq suggests to mediate, worried over domino effect
Iran warned Saudi Arabia Wednesday to stop working against it as their diplomatic crisis intensified despite efforts to defuse a row that has raised fears of greater regional instability.
As diplomats arrived home after being told to leave Saudi Arabia, Shia-dominated Iran fired the latest verbal salvo in a dispute that has seen Riyadh and some Sunni Arab allies cut diplomatic ties with Tehran.
At a press conference in the capital, foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Riyadh must end prolonged efforts to confront Iran.
Citing longstanding differences that became a full-blown split after Saudi Arabia executed Shiite cleric and activist Nimr al-Nimr, Mr Zarif said the Sunni-ruled kingdom had sought systematically to inflict damage.
“For the past two-and-a-half years, Saudi Arabia has opposed Iran’s diplomacy,” he said at the press conference with Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
“Saudi Arabia has moved against our efforts and, unfortunately, they opposed the nuclear agreement,” Mr Zarif said, also accusing Riyadh of “taking measures against the Iranian people” through its efforts to keep oil prices low.
“This trend of creating tension must stop. We need to stand united... And stop those who are adding fuel to the fire,” he added.
The spike in tensions comes after Iran last year secured a historic nuclear deal with world powers led by the United States, causing major concern in longtime US ally Riyadh.
That deal, when finally implemented, will end sanctions on Iran’s oil and gas industry that could see the Islamic republic challenge Saudi Arabia’s role as the Middle East’s dominant energy and economic power.
Meanwhile, Iraq offered to mediate betweenSaudi Arabia and Iran to end their dispute, saying on Wednesday it could spill over into the rest of the region.
Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, speaking in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart, said the row could have “wide-ranging repercussions”.
Analysts said Baghdad was particularly worried about anything that could disrupt its campaign against ISIS militants.
“We have solid relations with the Islamic Republic (Iran)... And also we have relations with our Arab brothers and therefore we cannot stay silent in this crisis,” Mr Jaafari told the join press conference.
Nimr’s death sparked demonstrations in many countries including Iran, where protesters stormed and set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran as well as the kingdom’s consulate in second city Mashhad.
Oman also said it regretted the “unacceptable” attacks on Saudi missions in Iran but did not announce any measures against the Islamic Republic, after some Gulf nations downgraded diplomatic ties.
Staff at Iran’s embassy in Riyadh and its consulate in Jeddah flew home Wednesday, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Separately, four armed men set on a bus fire on Tuesday carrying workers in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province, state news agency SPA reported.
