Khamenei condemns attack on Saudi Embassy in Tehran

Nawaz peace mission producing results

ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei a day after the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Iran on Wednesday condemned the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran terming it an action that damaged the country.

The condemnation has come 18 days after the  attack on January 2 and is being linked to the efforts of the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s “Peace Mission", who had whirlwind trip of the region for seeking peace.

It is likely that Saudi Arabia would also respond without much delay to the gesture in positive manner. It would be pertinent to recall that protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Jan. 2 after Saudi Arabia executed a renowned religious scholar. This prompted Riyadh to sever relations with Tehran, which in turn cut all commercial ties with Riyadh, and banned pilgrims from travelling to Makkah. Later the restriction was withdrawn.

"Attacking the Saudi Embassy (in Tehran) was really bad and harmed Iran and Islam, but this should not be an excuse to criticise our devout young people," Khamenei was quoted as saying on his website.

Diplomatic observers are of the view that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s peace efforts are producing results rapidly. Prime Minister Nawaz also conveyed his greetings to Khamenei during his stay in Tehran on Tuesday.

Khamenei also said that "I didn't have the opportunity to thank the young soldiers in the Revolutionary Guards. What they did in the Persian Gulf was right." Ten US sailors, who were aboard two patrol craft, were detained for 15 hours by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Jan 12 when they inadvertently entered Iranian territorial waters. "The politician should do the same and stop enemies with full power if they cross the line anywhere," Khamenei said.

Khamenei on Tuesday welcomed the implementation of the nuclear deal with world powers and lifting of international sanctions against Iran, but warned that Tehran should remain wary of its old enemy United States and its "deceit and treachery."