Riyadh-Tehran row: Saudi Foreign Minister denies Pakistan’s mediation

MANAMA (Web Desk) - Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir has denied that Pakistan mediated between Saudi Arabia and Iran amid recent tensions between the two countries, Bahrain’s state media reported Monday.

While talking to media in Bahrain’s capital Manama, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that many countries offered to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh for reconciliation however; this is not possible unless Iran does not respond positively. He said that Iran knows better how to react in such a situation.

Al Jubeir said that Iran has been following a hostile policy towards the Arab world that included interference in their domestic affairs, sowing sectarian sedition and supporting terrorism.

Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran this month after protesters there burned Riyadh’s embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad.

The violence against Riyadh’s missions occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and and the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif last week met the Saudi and Iranian leaderships in their respective capitals for what the government described as a move for defusing tensions between the two Muslim countries that were sparked by execution of Saudi dissident Sheikh Nimr and the subsequent attack on Saudi mission in Iran by protesters.

Jubeir's statement is in contrast to the prime minister's, who upon the conclusion of his “mediation trip” had struck an upbeat tone, saying Pakistan’s initiative was welcomed in both capitals and he expected it to progress.