TEHRAN: Iranian-Saudi tensions intensified on Wednesday as Tehran threatened a “fierce” response over delays in repatriating Haj stampede victims and the Saudi-led coalition said it had seized an Iranian boat carrying arms for Yemeni rebels.
At least 239 Iranians died in last week’s tragedy near the holy city of Mecca and another 241 are listed as missing.
Tehran has accused Riyadh of hindering its efforts to bring the bodies home.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokeswoman said that among the missing was Ghazanfar Roknabadi, 49, the country’s former ambassador to Lebanon, a highly sensitive post.
The two rivals in the oil-rich Gulf were already at odds over Iran’s support for Huthi rebels in Yemen, which lies on Saudi Arabia’s southern flank. That prompted Riyadh to form a coalition of Arab nations to combat the Huthis.
“Saudi officials are failing to do their duties,” Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech to graduating navy officers, following delays in the return of the Haj dead, accusing some of the officials of “slyness”.