Speaking at his weekly press conference on Monday morning, Hossein Jaber Ansari touched upon Saudi Arabia’s recent actions and its termination of diplomatic relations with Iran stating “Saudi measures tend to increase conflict and tension in the region and support the wave of Takfiri terrorism.”
“The Saudi government has even backed certain terrorist groups within the territory of Iran,” he stressed.
Jaber Ansari added “rough reaction to reform demands, the last of which has been the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr, suggests that Saudi Arabia is seeking to give rise to regional conflicts despite being involved in a variety of internal and external crises.”
“What happened to the Saudi embassy in Tehran was not a first-time event in the world,” noted FM spokesman emphasizing “the host government needs to act to its obligations under international conventions and the Islamic Republic of Iran had made an effort to control the wave of people’s sentiment being committed to maintaining the security of diplomatic premises.”
Jaber Ansari urged regional and world countries to prevent Saudi Arabia from pursuing its tension-increasing policies which will eventually lead to deplorable outcomes.
In response to a question about the formation of a strategic council by Saudi and Turkish officials with the aim of forming regional security, he asserted “the bilateral relations between Turkey and other Islamic states has nothing to do with Iran while, in his most recent announcements, the Turkish president has emphasized on maintaining the neighborhood relations between Iran and Turkey.”
The Iranian official, in response to another question about the causes of Iran’s protest against the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr, said “the constitution used in some regional countries including Saudi Arabia is truly out-dated and mainly relies on the rule of individuals and families who will suppress all social or political groups demanding change.”
When asked about the Foreign Ministry’s political measures to avoid repetition of incidents such as the attack on the Saudi embassy, FM spokesman maintained “the Iranian government is committed to international obligations under international conventions pertaining to provision of security for diplomatic premises.”
“With regard to the recent events, the Iranian Foreign Ministry as well as all relevant agencies are undertaking proper measures to deal with offenders who have moved beyond the limits of law,” he underlined.
He further stressed that Saudi Arabia terminated diplomatic relations with Iran at a time when everything was under control and there existed no threat to Saudi diplomats.
On another question about Iran’s consultations regarding the preparation of terrorist groups in Syria, the spokesperson highlighted “according to made decisions, a working group was formed to provide the list and Iran is following the issue in conjunction with the other members of the group.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman, in response to a question on whether JCPOA will become operational within the coming weeks, asserted “there is no doubt that a wide communication is going on and over the past two years, Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime have put a great deal of effort to interfere with the JCPOA as being in contrast with their interests in the region.”
Jaber Ansari expressed hope that with the ongoing right policies, the sides involved in JCPOA will provide the proper ground for its improvement and implementation.
“Iran has taken all the required actions with regard to JCPOA and the remaining steps pertain to the other party,” he noted.
When asked about Iran’s measures to prevent the negative effects of the termination of Iran-Saudi relations on cooperation with Persian Gulf littoral countries, Iran’s FM spokesman said “Saudi Arabia feels isolated for being accused of supporting terrorism in the region and as a result will pursue tension-based policies by putting pressure on other states.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran follows a clear policy with regard to developing engagement and cooperation with neighbors and world countries and enjoys high-level relationships with many regional governments and Arabic states,” he added.
In response to another question about Iran’s reaction to Saudi Arabia’s plan to make a complaint against Iran to the UN’s Security Council, Jaber Ansari underlined “Iran has fully carried out its legal obligations in accordance with international conventions and has taken necessary measures against certain outlaws who have carried out acts against diplomatic premises by arresting them and handing them over to judicial authorities.”
“Iranian diplomats also had 48 hours to leave Saudi Arabia and the Iranian embassy as well as the Foreign Ministry are undertaking required arrangement for the transfer of the country’s diplomats,” noted the official.
Jaber Ansari went on to maintain that, “the Yemeni crisis is still ongoing and Takfiri-terroristic acts supported by Saudis continue to threaten all countries.”
“The Mina incident case is still open and the issues regarding the transfer of dead pilgrim’s bodies are being pursued even though Saudi Arabia keeps increasing the crises in the region,” said the official.
Jaber Ansari stressed that continued pursuit of tension-increasing policies mark Iran’s redline while Saudi Arabia still insists on policies that have failed in the past decade.
In response to another question on whether any country has announced readiness to act as mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia, FM spokesman said “if Saudi policies were based on logic and rationality, no need would be felt for a mediator and as long as Saudis stick to their current policies, there remains no possibility for the development of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.”
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