Bahrain: Iran has no right to interfere in Saudi Arabia affairs

A historically fraught rivalry between Sunni Muslim-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shiite Muslim Iran, previously fought mostly through proxies, now is more direct than ever and threatens to engulf the region in a new spiral of bitter confrontations, analysts said. Its execution of Nimr, while mainly driven by domestic politics, was also part of that open confrontation with Iran, according to political analysts. “This is the Saudis saying: ‘There is no limit to how far we will go'”. Following the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr along with 46 others, Iranian demonstrators staged a protest in front of the Saudi Embassy, in Tehran, on Sunday, January 3rd, 2016.

Saudi Arabia used an attack on its embassy in Tehran as a pretext to fuel tensions, Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday after Riyadh severed diplomatic relations.

It said all commercial and air traffic links were being cut and that Saudi citizens were banned from travelling to Iran.

Pakistan on Monday expressed concerns over growing tension Saudi Arabia and Iran and called for the resolution of difference through peaceful means. Riyadh, along with the UAE, sent tanks and troops to Bahrain in 2011 to quell widespread anti-government protests spearheaded by Bahrain’s Shiite majority. In October, Bahrain ordered the acting Iranian charge d’affaires to leave within 72 hours and recalled its own ambassador after alleging Iran sponsored “subversion” and “terrorism” and funneled arms to militants.

“The Secretary-General reiterated that the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran was deplorable, but added that the announcement of a break in Saudi diplomatic relations with Tehran was deeply worrying”, Dujarric told reporters.

He said the Saudi diplomatic representative had sought help from the Iranian foreign ministry when the building was stormed, but the requests were ignored three times.

“Saudi Arabia and Iran are our friends and we don’t want them fighting because that’s the last thing this region needs”.

A Russian state news agency on Monday quoting an unnamed senior diplomat as saying Moscow is ready to act as a mediator in the escalating conflict.

UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura traveled to Riyadh for talks and was to head later this week to Tehran to seek assurances that hard-won gains in the Syria peace process were not in jeopardy.

In recent years, the two countries have been divided over the war in Syria, where Iran is backing the regime, and the conflict in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition is battling Shiite rebels.

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“There will always be reasons…to be reluctant to engage”, Earnest said. Both countries have been participating in the talks in Vienna. But Saudi Arabia is adamant Nimr got a fair trial. Authorities have already buried the sheikh’s body in an undisclosed cemetery, his family said. “That’s how you really attack ISIS”, Sennott said.