2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran | |||
---|---|---|---|
Part of Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict | |||
Date | 2–3 January 2016 | ||
Location | 35°48′05″N 51°28′32″E / 35.80139°N 51.47556°E (Tehran) 36°19′07″N 59°32′56″E / 36.31861°N 59.54889°E (Mashhad) | ||
Caused by |
| ||
Methods | Demonstrations and rioting | ||
Resulted in | Embassy in
Tehran
arsoned and destroyed
| ||
Parties | |||
| |||
Lead figures | |||
Number | |||
| |||
Casualties | |||
Death(s) | None | ||
Arrested | ~100 protesters (as of 24 January 2016) [1] |
The 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran was a mob action on 2 January 2016 by protesters against the execution of a prominent Saudi Arabian Shi'a cleric. Mobs stormed the embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad and ransacked them. The embassy building was set on fire with Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs. During the attacks, the police arrived and dispersed protesters from the embassy premises and extinguished the fire. [5]
The attacks were later condemned by Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. [6] [7] On 24 January, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i announced that around 100 people involved in the attack are in custody by the authorities. [8]
Moments after Sheikh Nimr was executed, the Saudi Arabian chargé d'affaires was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry to protest against the execution. [9] Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi said that the Saudi government "supports terrorist movements and Takfiri extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country". [10]
The remarks were later condemned by Saudi Arabia as "hostile" and the ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh. The ministry expressed "the kingdom's astonishment and its utter rejection of these hostile statements, which it deemed a blatant intervention in the kingdom's affairs", according to a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency. [11]
About several thousand demonstrators gathered near the embassy on Saturday night to protest and strongly condemn the execution of Sheikh Nimr. The rally began quietly, but some participants attempted to storm the building by climbing the embassy's fence, breaking down the door, throwing around papers on the roof and seizing the Saudi flag. The protesters chanted, "Death to the Al Saud [family]", the ruling family of Saudi Arabia among other slogans. It later turned violent after demonstrators began throwing petrol bombs and Molotov cocktails at the embassy and then broke into the compound. The police arrived and dispersed protesters from the embassy premises and extinguished the fire. [5]
In Mashhad, Iran's second largest city, demonstrators also set fire at the Saudi consulate and torn down the Saudi flag. [12]
Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei condemned the attacks and known it as "a very bad and wrong incident". Also, he declared that: "like the British embassy attack before it, this was against the country (Iran) and Islam, and I didn't like it." [6] [13]
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the attacks while at the same time he also condemned the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. He blamed the attacks on "extremist individuals". He has pledged to protect the security of foreign missions and prosecute those responsible for attacking Saudi diplomatic posts, in a series of messages posted on his Twitter account moments after the attack. [14] On 6 January, President Rouhani has asked the Iranian judiciary to immediately prosecute the attackers invoked. He said by punishing the attackers and those who orchestrated this obvious offense, his government should put an end once and forever to such damage and insults to Iran's dignity and national security." [15]
The Iranian authorities have expressed regret over the attacks and arrested at least 40 individuals in connection to the attack. [7]
Five days later on January 7, 2016, Iran's foreign ministry made the claim that Saudi warplanes had "deliberately" targeted its embassy to Yemen in the city of Sana'a. Iran's report included claims that,"a number of the building's guards" had been injured as a result of the bombing. Despite this assertion San'aa residents and the Associated Press have reported that the embassy suffered no visible damage. Currently General Ahmad Asseri from the Saudi-led coalition is investigating Iran's allegations. [16]
On 24 January, Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i announced on state TV that they arrested around 100 people involved in the attack. Some of them were later released. [8]
Following the attack, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced that they will break off diplomatic relations with Iran, recalling its diplomats from Tehran and declared Iranian diplomats in Riyadh personae non grata, ordering to leave the kingdom within 48 hours. [17]
A day later on 4 January, Foreign Minister al-Jubeir said that they will end air traffic and trade links with Iran and also cutting off all commercial relations with Iran. In addition, the Saudi government has imposed a travel ban on its citizens from visiting Iran. Iranian pilgrims would still be welcome to visit Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, either for the annual Hajj or at other times of year on the Umrah pilgrimage. [18]
2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran | |||
---|---|---|---|
Part of Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict | |||
Date | 2–3 January 2016 | ||
Location | 35°48′05″N 51°28′32″E / 35.80139°N 51.47556°E (Tehran) 36°19′07″N 59°32′56″E / 36.31861°N 59.54889°E (Mashhad) | ||
Caused by |
| ||
Methods | Demonstrations and rioting | ||
Resulted in | Embassy in
Tehran
arsoned and destroyed
| ||
Parties | |||
| |||
Lead figures | |||
Number | |||
| |||
Casualties | |||
Death(s) | None | ||
Arrested | ~100 protesters (as of 24 January 2016) [1] |
The 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran was a mob action on 2 January 2016 by protesters against the execution of a prominent Saudi Arabian Shi'a cleric. Mobs stormed the embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad and ransacked them. The embassy building was set on fire with Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs. During the attacks, the police arrived and dispersed protesters from the embassy premises and extinguished the fire. [5]
The attacks were later condemned by Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. [6] [7] On 24 January, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i announced that around 100 people involved in the attack are in custody by the authorities. [8]
Moments after Sheikh Nimr was executed, the Saudi Arabian chargé d'affaires was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry to protest against the execution. [9] Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi said that the Saudi government "supports terrorist movements and Takfiri extremists, while executing and suppressing critics inside the country". [10]
The remarks were later condemned by Saudi Arabia as "hostile" and the ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh. The ministry expressed "the kingdom's astonishment and its utter rejection of these hostile statements, which it deemed a blatant intervention in the kingdom's affairs", according to a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency. [11]
About several thousand demonstrators gathered near the embassy on Saturday night to protest and strongly condemn the execution of Sheikh Nimr. The rally began quietly, but some participants attempted to storm the building by climbing the embassy's fence, breaking down the door, throwing around papers on the roof and seizing the Saudi flag. The protesters chanted, "Death to the Al Saud [family]", the ruling family of Saudi Arabia among other slogans. It later turned violent after demonstrators began throwing petrol bombs and Molotov cocktails at the embassy and then broke into the compound. The police arrived and dispersed protesters from the embassy premises and extinguished the fire. [5]
In Mashhad, Iran's second largest city, demonstrators also set fire at the Saudi consulate and torn down the Saudi flag. [12]
Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei condemned the attacks and known it as "a very bad and wrong incident". Also, he declared that: "like the British embassy attack before it, this was against the country (Iran) and Islam, and I didn't like it." [6] [13]
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the attacks while at the same time he also condemned the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. He blamed the attacks on "extremist individuals". He has pledged to protect the security of foreign missions and prosecute those responsible for attacking Saudi diplomatic posts, in a series of messages posted on his Twitter account moments after the attack. [14] On 6 January, President Rouhani has asked the Iranian judiciary to immediately prosecute the attackers invoked. He said by punishing the attackers and those who orchestrated this obvious offense, his government should put an end once and forever to such damage and insults to Iran's dignity and national security." [15]
The Iranian authorities have expressed regret over the attacks and arrested at least 40 individuals in connection to the attack. [7]
Five days later on January 7, 2016, Iran's foreign ministry made the claim that Saudi warplanes had "deliberately" targeted its embassy to Yemen in the city of Sana'a. Iran's report included claims that,"a number of the building's guards" had been injured as a result of the bombing. Despite this assertion San'aa residents and the Associated Press have reported that the embassy suffered no visible damage. Currently General Ahmad Asseri from the Saudi-led coalition is investigating Iran's allegations. [16]
On 24 January, Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i announced on state TV that they arrested around 100 people involved in the attack. Some of them were later released. [8]
Following the attack, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced that they will break off diplomatic relations with Iran, recalling its diplomats from Tehran and declared Iranian diplomats in Riyadh personae non grata, ordering to leave the kingdom within 48 hours. [17]
A day later on 4 January, Foreign Minister al-Jubeir said that they will end air traffic and trade links with Iran and also cutting off all commercial relations with Iran. In addition, the Saudi government has imposed a travel ban on its citizens from visiting Iran. Iranian pilgrims would still be welcome to visit Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, either for the annual Hajj or at other times of year on the Umrah pilgrimage. [18]