Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Iran's military attaché, assistant military attaché, and three mission staff members as personae non grata on Saturday, ordering them to leave the kingdom within 24 hours. The ministry stated this decision was due to "repeated Iranian attacks" on Saudi territory, marking a significant diplomatic escalation amid ongoing regional tensions.
This move comes against the backdrop of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has seen Tehran allegedly target Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors hosting US military assets with increasingly damaging strikes on civilian hubs and energy facilities. These actions have purportedly unleashed chaos across the region and roiled global energy markets, raising concerns about stability in a key oil-producing area.
Saudi Arabia, which holds the world's second-largest proven crude oil reserves, has reportedly come under attack by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the war's onset, with authorities claiming the vast majority were intercepted. Among the incidents, energy facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia and the capital, Riyadh, have been repeatedly targeted, including a recent drone strike on the US embassy earlier this month that highlighted the growing security threats.
On Saturday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud asserted that trust in Iran had been "shattered," emphasizing his country's right to defend itself. He warned that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states possess "very significant capacities and capabilities that they could bring to bear should they choose to do so," suggesting potential retaliatory measures if attacks continue.
Historically, Saudi-Iranian relations have been rocky, but the two countries embarked on a Beijing-brokered rapprochement three years ago. The Foreign Ministry's statement cautioned that continued Iranian attacks would lead to further escalation and have "significant consequences" for current and future ties. This follows Qatar's decision on Wednesday to declare Iranian Embassy military and security attaches in Doha as personae non grata, indicating a broader regional pattern of diplomatic strain linked to security concerns.
Source: www.aljazeera.com