- Attacks on missions unacceptable: Egypt
- Kuwait recalls ambassador from Tehran
United Nations — The UN Security Council joined others in strongly condemning the attacks on Saudi missions in Iran.
“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran, and its Consulate General in Mashhad in Iran, which resulted in intrusions into the diplomatic and consular premises, causing serious damage,” said the Council statement.
Expressing “deep concern” over the attacks, the council “called on the Iranian authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel, and to respect fully their international obligations in this regard.”
Council members urged the sides to “maintain dialogue and take steps to reduce tensions in the region.”
Saudi Ambassador to UN Abdallah Al-Mouallimi had earlier urged the Council to “take all appropriate measures to ensure the inviolability of diplomatic facilities and the protection of all Saudi diplomats in Iran.”
Egypt’s foreign minister denounced the attacks as “unacceptable.” Sameh Shoukry said during a visit to Riyadh on Tuesday that Iranian behavior is tantamount to “intervening in the Kingdom’s internal affairs.” The Egyptian diplomat also reaffirmed his country’s support for Saudi Arabia ahead of an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers at the Arab League.
He said the “security of the Kingdom is an integral part of Egypt’s security and Egypt’s security is an integral part of the Kingdom’s security.”
Kuwait became Tuesday the latest Gulf Arab state to recall its ambassador from Iran to protest attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions, while also summoning Tehran’s ambassador to express its disapproval of them.
Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said the ambassador was handed a memorandum that condemned the attacks and called for Iran to “respect its international obligations,” according to the official KUNA news agency.
He also expressed Kuwait’s support for Saudi Arabia in the measures it is taking to safeguard its security.
In announcing the recall, the Foreign Ministry was quoted by the official KUNA news agency as saying the attacks “represent a flagrant breach of international agreements and norms and a grave violation of Iran’s international commitments for the security of diplomatic missions and the safety of diplomats.”
The announcement comes after Saudi Arabia and Bahrain severed ties with Iran this week. And the United Arab Emirates has recalled its ambassador and downgraded ties with Tehran.
GCC extraordinary meeting
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states announced on Tuesday it will hold an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh on Saturday to discuss tensions with Iran after the attack on Saudi missions there.
“Foreign ministers of the GCC States will hold an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh on Saturday ... to discuss the repercussions of the attack on the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in the Iranian city of Mashhad,” GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani said in an emailed statement.
