Ali Larijani received Mr. Saud bin Ahmed bin Khalid Al Barwani, Oman’s ambassador to Tehran on Monday where they focused on recent developments in the region as well as bilateral matters of interest. Mr. Larijani said that Iran and Oman had long and fruitful relations which had culminated in Oman’s acting as intermediary to bring the US and Iranian officials together in solving nuclear issue as a hallmark of the country’s role.
“The honorable King Qaboos of Oman had been taking very prudent and wise policies, providing the region with an example of reliable relations with countries; however, the unfortunate events in the region would only damage the image of Islam and would only benefit the Zionist enemy; Saudi Arabia has been attacking Yemeni people for months, effectively spreading violence and terrorism in its southern neighbor; now, with execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, it has hurt the sensitivities of Muslims, especially Shia in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Larijani told Omani ambassador. “Execution of a religious leader is unjustified by any excuse; we equally do not countenance mass attacks and atrocity toward Saudi embassy in Tehran and will address the issue to the end. The acts have been perpetrated by a group of extremist individuals,” he added.
Larijani also believed that Saudis’ severing of political relations with Iran was misguided and overhasty; “they should exercise prudence and temperance on this; we had not taken any measure in similar conditions when in the EU countries Iranian embassy was attacked,” he said.
Al Barwani for his part, described relations with Iran as ‘very friendly, extensive, and historical;’ “in recent years both countries had improved economic and political ties in both sides of the Persian Gulf; we hope for further improvements as well,” he said.
“Under current conditions, we need peace and stability in the region. Severing of political relations under any pretext by Saudis is far from prudence and an inaccurate response to crisis; I believe Saudi Arabia seeks to overshadow Iran’s nuclear achievements of the past year by mounting pressure on Tehran,” the ambassador told the meeting.
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