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UNITED NATIONS: Iran told the United Nations on Friday that it does not want to escalate tensions in the Middle East, even as it took a swipe at Saudi Arabia for what it called “sectarian hate-mongering".
Saudi Arabia was “spreading delusional hype about Iran” after failing to derail the nuclear deal reached with world powers, Tehran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
“We have no desire or interest in escalation of tension in our neighbourhood,” Zarif said in the letter, obtained by AFP.
Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday after angry protesters ransacked and set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran over the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The tensions between the Sunni and Shia powers have reverberated across the Middle East and the Muslim world, complicating efforts to resolve conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
“Iran has called for Islamic unity in the face of Saudi sectarian hate-mongering,” Zarif wrote.
The foreign minister called for unity to confront extremists and said Riyadh must make a “crucial choice” to either “continue supporting extremist terrorists” or “play a constructive role in promoting regional stability".
Iran and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly accused each other of backing extremist groups who are wreaking chaos in the Middle East.
Zarif accused Riyadh of waging a “senseless aerial campaign targeting the people of Yemen” and of thwarting efforts to reach a ceasefire and begin political negotiations to end the conflict there.
A Saudi-led coalition is backing Yemen's government in its war against Iran-backed Shia rebels who seized the capital Sanaa in September 2014.
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Comments (52) Closed
Jan 09, 2016 12:48pm
If you don't want to escalate tensions then please stop poking in other countries business.
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Jan 09, 2016 12:53pm
Saudi has to give citizen rights to Saudi Shia, no gain in hiding behind Iranophobia.
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Jan 09, 2016 01:06pm
War of words, war of nerves, and war by proxy goes on!
Please, both sides Time Out!
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Jan 09, 2016 01:19pm
UN to show mirror to Mr. Zarif
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Jan 09, 2016 01:23pm
it will not work, world does not care and will not distinguish
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Jan 09, 2016 01:26pm
@Ali wali .... Saudi Arabia needs economic reform. They need a broader based economy. Fortunes change. Saudi oil is not as important.
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Jan 09, 2016 01:27pm
@Ali wali .... The Saudi royals know they must give their people more freedom.
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Jan 09, 2016 02:26pm
Shiekh Nimr Al Nimr execution was a great strategic mistake. US wants to disintegrate Iraq into Shia Sunni and Kurd States. And ground is being preparing to disintegrate Saudi Arabia into eastern oil rich Qatif and Awammiyah region. Unfortunately, Ale Saud is working for their own national interest.
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Jan 09, 2016 02:40pm
An international arms embargo needs to imposed on both of them.
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Jan 09, 2016 03:23pm
@Goodhopes Who is going to put embargo and why? When Saudi and other gulf countries are buying g weapons every year worth billions of dollars from Western countries, do you think any Western country would support such an embargo?
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Jan 09, 2016 03:35pm
Pakistan should mediate..after all pakistan, the only muslim super power.
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Jan 09, 2016 03:45pm
Yes thats right. Saudis funds some extremist organisations to export ideology and interpretation of islam.
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Jan 09, 2016 04:55pm
The division in Islam has created a mess how centuries old problem can be solved if not then the uncertainty will go on. If it is not handled wisely it seems to blow up to the extent that it will not be controlled.
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Jan 09, 2016 05:17pm
both countries accuse each other,yet both countries are involved in supporting and funding extremism in the middle East
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Jan 09, 2016 05:27pm
Pakistan needs to step up and take responsibility in diffusing tensions between Iran-Saudi. Only power that can do it.
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Jan 09, 2016 05:43pm
About time the Muslim world need to put their thinking cap on and decide what to do with this Iran and Saudi Arabia problem. These two needs to be sorted in one way or another. Pakistan and Turkey needs to take a lead here. Making them both irrelevant and isolated in Muslim world would get them back in their senses.
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Jan 09, 2016 06:10pm
I am Sunni Muslim, but appreciate Iran. It is democratic country, cares for unity of muslims world wide and is also dependent on its own capabilities to defend itself. Other countries should learn from Iran. How long will they keep calling other for help if they are in turmoil and how long will they depend on foreign powers for their own security, How long will they keep on bullying their people with father, son and grandson...rule?
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Jan 09, 2016 06:51pm
Being Sunni, I don't see anything wrong with Shias consolidating power? Everyone does it...They are our brothers, let them live in peace...
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Jan 09, 2016 06:54pm
@mano "If you don't want to escalate tensions then please stop poking in other countries business." And other countrie's business would perhaps be bombarding the neighboring Yemen and dislodging the presidential government of Bashar AlAsad in Syria, if we correctly understand you?
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Jan 09, 2016 06:55pm
The Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is responsible to bring this two countries for confrontation on the religious bases before the Syrian problem there was no such confrontation and hate b/w these two countries
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Jan 09, 2016 07:01pm
@Jafer Khan
"UN to show mirror to Mr. Zarif" And what would that mirror show that Iran is bombarding the hapless Yemen for the last more than one year and staying neutral in world affairs by funding DAESH to invade Syria to dislodge the Syrian government and also occupy Iraqi territory and slaughter its citizens ?
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Jan 09, 2016 07:02pm
Saddam behaved like the Saudis in the 80's believing that his friends in Saudi and Kuwait will continue to support use of poisonous gas attacks on civilians and he also killed religious scholars. Saddam ended miserably. Saudi Arabia is repeating similar mistakes and war crimes bombings of civilians in Yemen, supporting foreign terrorist in Syria. Saudi Arabia also helped overthrew violently the democratic government in Egypt by its military. Violence will produce more violence not less. We do not want Pakistan to become like Iraq or Syria and hence must resist the temptation of Saudi aid money which is fast dwindling as a result of Saudi oil price suicide
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Jan 09, 2016 07:08pm
Iran must accept its negligence, saudie embassy burn down in iran, saudia has right to get anger.
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Jan 09, 2016 07:17pm
Would you two stop this already! Saudi Arabia needs to curtail its anger and stop spreading extremism in the world. And Iran needs to grow up and join the international community as a responsible nation. No more burning down embassies.
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Jan 09, 2016 07:26pm
Iran and saudi Arabia should workout their mutual relations strictly based upon interests of the two states, without involvement of their religious clerics who would never agree even on a simple matter like how to slaughter a chicken.
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Jan 09, 2016 08:18pm
Iran is absolutely right.
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Jan 09, 2016 08:23pm
Iran a democratic country,A joke where the presidential candidates are chosen to run by the supreme authority. Not much difference between both countries .
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Jan 09, 2016 08:26pm
@Mehtab if you know nothing about ground realities its better to stay silent..awwamiyah is a very small village so is the adjacent qateef town none have any significant oil well in 100 kilometer radius. Being a resident of eastern region of KSA for 10 years i can easily say oil and the shia rebellion dont have common demographics. Besides standard of life in all eastern region is better than any where else in kingdom. Majority of eastern region residents are Sunni muslims.compare that to quality life of life in tehran, be it education,health, social security, law and order ,saudia is atleast 50 years of iranis who queue up infront of froeign embassy every day before dawn
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Jan 09, 2016 08:32pm
I pity Iran, the only country fighting against all odds... And no "One" to assist it! The only friends it has, are fighting for their own survival, so sad...In a way, we should be proud of it!
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Jan 09, 2016 08:47pm
@Ali wali ... They are already Saudi Citizens if you Don't beleive come to Qatif & you can check yourself most of them are very loyal to their country & even serve in the forces, besides this they have their own mosques & they celebrate Ashura every 10th of Muharram & other religious customs without any problem they own bussinesses & alo they work in the most prestigious company Saudi Aramco. They enjoy a better life from any other person in other countries., so please correct your information.
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Jan 09, 2016 08:49pm
Mirror - mirror on the wall who is the supporter of terrorist activities of all?
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Jan 09, 2016 08:54pm
Bashar Al Assad survives because of Iran and its Lebanese protege Hizbollah!Iran has fanned sectarianism in Iraq destroying that country in league with the west!People should not forget the Col.North/Iran-Contra affair of the past whereby US arms were transferred through Israel to Iran-notwithstanding the shrill shadow-boxing cries of 'Death to America ' on the streets of the Rafid republic of Iran!When Iran wants it supports Talibans enemies and the other way round crying hoarse about it so called principled stand!
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Jan 09, 2016 09:03pm
Both Iran And S. Arabia are two sides of the same coin
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Jan 09, 2016 09:30pm
@Zeezoo You may well live in Saudi Arabia but you don't know the realities of current conflict and its future repercussions. Its not a matter of bigotry of Shias and Sunnis. My point was, the imperialist doesn't give a damn about whether you are Sunni or Shia they want servants. For that they divide and rule. By executing popular Sheikh Nimr Saudis have opened the doors of hell. Get ready for return ticket where ever you from.
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Jan 09, 2016 09:35pm
2 brothers countries, please relax and help poor people, pay sadqa and zakat all problems will go away and keep in mind do not be divided or you will be invaded by infidels.
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Jan 09, 2016 09:45pm
It is all about greed and power and that is why Muslims are playing into the hands of the rich and powerful nations. Long ago all Muslims lived happily and peacefully under one Caliph all the way to the dying days of the Ottoman Empire. The West will never let Muslims be one again and that is the reason they divided the Ottoman Empire into pieces. This is called divide and rule. Now all the rulers of the divided parts of the Ottoman Empire the so called Muslim countries are afraid to join hands and share because each one of them wants the whole pie plus they are afraid to lose the piece they rule.
The reason for this mess is because they all think of themselves as the rulers of the divided piece and they think they are the owners of the divided land. Therefore, the thinking is that they rule the people living in those lands instead of serving them.
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Jan 09, 2016 10:06pm
@Mastang "Iran must accept its negligence, saudie embassy burn down in iran, saudia has right to get anger." While attack on any foreign mission is always unjustifiable, the Iranian government has distanced itself from the violent protest not only by condemning it but also by arresting more than 40 protesters although it is common norm in Asian/African including Pakistan to register protests, often times violent,against offending foreign missions. That said, people's anger in Iran was not so ill founded either as Baqir Alnmr, was a religious scholar, with history of criticism but no violent acts against Saudia, was beheaded despite a global cry against that. Then, Saudi has been escalating the tension by closing Irani embassy there and it is engulfing the whole region towards a violent sectarian divide. Saudi anger has to stop somewhere before the Muslim world is pushed to an irreversible catastrophe.
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Jan 09, 2016 10:12pm
All this heated rhetoric is bound to get out of hand and could be catastrophic.
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Jan 09, 2016 10:51pm
@Mona Speaking in ignorance is not a good omen please educate yourself.
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Jan 09, 2016 11:02pm
Saudi Shias have no problem with their government the only problem is when another country like Iran interfere in their matters.
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Jan 09, 2016 11:25pm
@Zak :What 'power'?
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Jan 09, 2016 11:35pm
@Syed Zafar Kazmi U. S. A : Shia are majority in Iraq and of course you believe in majority rule and dominance , No?
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Jan 10, 2016 01:20am
@Ali wali Iran has to give rights to Sunnis and Saudi to shittes this is the only way
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Jan 10, 2016 02:25am
Mind power will win muscle power any day, any time, any era....who has that?
That is my 64 dollar question. Think about.
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Jan 10, 2016 02:27am
Life is all about about mind....forget these Secondary distractions....Mind is Primary and will always protect you.
Trust you own Mind and win.
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Jan 10, 2016 03:46am
@N_Saq I loved your comments till the part where you wrote:" The West will never let Muslims be one again ....."
Life works according to Law of Nature.....and it is a simple law when you are weak, people and nations take advantage of your weakness.....it is the Law, and Timeless, Universal Truth.....
We need to be strong inwardly before we can be strong outwardly.
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Jan 10, 2016 05:24am
I think it's the other way around
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Jan 10, 2016 08:49am
@Mona @ and who started and supporting rebels in Syria to dislodge elected government?
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Jan 10, 2016 11:48am
Protesting over killing of a religious scholar whos is executed for raising voice for rights is neither an offense nor intrusion in any country's sovereignty.Storming embassy in not deemed to be from state of Iran, i am sure they mush have excused and regretted for what was done by angry mobs.
By severing ties with Iran wont effect Iran economy, that has survived worldwide sanctions for a whole decade ,rather it will effect adversely GCC countries economies.There seems logic when Iran says Saudis are trying to escalate tensions by persuading other countries having BRIGADES to cut off their relations with Iran.
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Jan 10, 2016 08:20pm
As if Iranian have a better record.
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Jan 11, 2016 03:43am
He really needed to come up with something more creative than "hate mongering".
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Jan 11, 2016 11:36pm
@mano Yes you are right , it goes both way. Saudi need to stop bombing Yemen and stop supporting rebel in Syria and Iraq.
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