UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council condemned “in the strongest terms” the attacks against the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, and its consulate general in Mashhad, which resulted in serious damage and intrusions into the diplomatic and consular premises.
The council members expressed “their deep concern at such attacks,” and called on the Iranian authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel, and to respect fully their international obligations in this regard, said the 15-nation UN body in a statement.
“The members of the Security Council called on all parties to maintain dialogue and take steps to reduce tensions in the region,” the statement said.
The council members recalled the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host governments to take all appropriate steps to protect these facilities against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, the statement said.
Late Saturday, angry Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi diplomatic mission to protest the execution of 47 individuals on terrorism charges, including a Saudi Shiite cleric, Namir al-Namir, a member of the Saudi Shiite community.
Saudi Arabia then announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Iran and asked all Iranian diplomats to leave within 48 hours.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said he has informed the UN Security Council of the attack on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran late Saturday, adding that those Saudi diplomats had reached Dubai, the UAE, safely.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has phoned foreign ministers of both Saudi Arabia and Iranto urge the two countries to avoid actions that could further exacerbate tensions, stressing the importance of continued constructive engagement by them in the interest of the region and beyond.
INP
