Iran has issued a strong condemnation of Saudi Arabia following the execution of six Iranian nationals convicted on drug trafficking charges, with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declaring the action a violation of international law.
Shasti Karimi, Director-General of Consular Affairs at Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed Iran’s strong condemnation, stating the executions were carried out despite ongoing consular efforts to assist the imprisoned individuals and seek commutation of their sentences.
Karimi emphasized that the executions, which occurred without prior notification to the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, constitute an unacceptable breach of international legal norms, specifically the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
In response, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Tehran was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he was presented with a formal protest note. The note conveyed Iran’s vehement protest to the executions and highlighted the incompatibility of the action with established judicial cooperation between the two countries. The Iranian government has demanded that Saudi Arabia provide a detailed explanation regarding this matter.
To further address the situation, a legal-consular delegation from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be dispatched to Riyadh to pursue the issue directly with Saudi authorities.
Executions have historically been a contentious point in the complex relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia. A notable rupture occurred in January 2016, when the two countries severed diplomatic ties following a series of escalating events. The immediate catalyst was Saudi Arabia’s execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric. This action sparked widespread protests across several countries, including Iran, where demonstrators attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad, resulting in damages. In response, Saudi Arabia announced it was severing diplomatic relations with Iran, ordering Iranian diplomats to depart the Kingdom. This marked a significant downturn in relations between the two countries.
After seven years of diplomatic estrangement, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish formal relations on March 10, 2023. This reconciliation, achieved through the mediation of China, represented a noteworthy step towards mending a long-standing rift.
