RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Iraq Thamer Al-Sabhan said he has in his possession important and serious information that prove there are Iranian movements and attempts to target him and members of the Saudi mission in Baghdad.
He noted that Iraqi officials understand the gravity of the situation and they have the responsibility of preventing any harm to the embassy or its diplomats.
He expressed his hope that Arab states would stand united with Saudi Arabia to formulate a joint Arab action to fight forces threatening the Arab nation, according to a report in a local publication.
“We informed the Iraqi government many times about Iranian movements against our embassy, and they responded well and gave directions to intensify security around the embassy,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.
He added that the Iranian activities come within the framework of Iran’s campaign to target the Saudi Embassy in Baghdad.
He explained the campaign was launched before the reopening of the Saudi Embassy in Baghdad and it focused on questioning the work of the embassy and its aims to the degree that it demanded his eviction.
“I think this is a systematic campaign, but lately its frequency has increased and become intense. I believe the reason for this is to distract the international community from the serious events in Iraq,” he added.
He said that Saudi Arabia has good will for all components of the Iraqi society. “But it seems that this did not appeal to some people who launched this campaign against Saudi Arabia,” Al-Sabhan said.
He said there are laws and international norms to provide protection for diplomats in all countries of the world, and nobody could commit such foolishness and inflect harm on the Saudi Embassy or members of its diplomatic mission.
Al-Sabhan said that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman gave him instructions to stand by Iraq and to extend unconditional aid to the country and its people.
“In implementation of the royal directions, we launched a program to aid the Iraqi people three months ago, but some government agencies prevented access to this aid and it remained in storage for several days, although much of this aid was medicine and medical equipment, and had to be stored in refrigerators so as not to be damaged. Later with the help of the Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abbadi the aid was released,” he said.
He noted that Iraqi officials understand the gravity of the situation and they have the responsibility of preventing any harm to the embassy or its diplomats.
He expressed his hope that Arab states would stand united with Saudi Arabia to formulate a joint Arab action to fight forces threatening the Arab nation, according to a report in a local publication.
“We informed the Iraqi government many times about Iranian movements against our embassy, and they responded well and gave directions to intensify security around the embassy,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.
He added that the Iranian activities come within the framework of Iran’s campaign to target the Saudi Embassy in Baghdad.
He explained the campaign was launched before the reopening of the Saudi Embassy in Baghdad and it focused on questioning the work of the embassy and its aims to the degree that it demanded his eviction.
“I think this is a systematic campaign, but lately its frequency has increased and become intense. I believe the reason for this is to distract the international community from the serious events in Iraq,” he added.
He said that Saudi Arabia has good will for all components of the Iraqi society. “But it seems that this did not appeal to some people who launched this campaign against Saudi Arabia,” Al-Sabhan said.
He said there are laws and international norms to provide protection for diplomats in all countries of the world, and nobody could commit such foolishness and inflect harm on the Saudi Embassy or members of its diplomatic mission.
Al-Sabhan said that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman gave him instructions to stand by Iraq and to extend unconditional aid to the country and its people.
“In implementation of the royal directions, we launched a program to aid the Iraqi people three months ago, but some government agencies prevented access to this aid and it remained in storage for several days, although much of this aid was medicine and medical equipment, and had to be stored in refrigerators so as not to be damaged. Later with the help of the Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abbadi the aid was released,” he said.
