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Raising Tensions, Iranians Again Link Saudis to Terror Attacks in Tehran Raising Tensions, Iranians Again Link Saudis to Terror Attacks in Tehran
(about 9 hours later)
TEHRAN — Turning up the heat in an already tense standoff, several Iranian officials on Tuesday renewed accusations against Saudi Arabia, suggesting that the Persian Gulf kingdom was behind last week’s twin terror attacks in Tehran. TEHRAN — Turning up the heat in an already tense standoff, several Iranian officials on Tuesday renewed accusations against Saudi Arabia, suggesting that the Persian Gulf kingdom was behind last week’s twin terrorist attacks in Tehran.
The country’s most influential military figure, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ali Jafari, the commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, told the semiofficial Fars news agency that Iran had “precise information” that Saudi Arabia “has asked terrorists to carry out operations in Iran.” Iran’s most influential military figure, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ali Jafari, the commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, told the semiofficial Fars news agency that Iran had “precise information” that Saudi Arabia “has asked terrorists to carry out operations in Iran.”
He offered no further details.He offered no further details.
The deputy chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, Brig. Gen. Masoud Jazayeria, a hard-liner, made similar claims against Saudi Arabia, accusing the Saudis of “governmental terrorism.” The deputy chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, Brig. Gen. Masoud Jazayeria, a hard-liner, made similar assertions against Saudi Arabia, accusing the Saudis of “governmental terrorism.”
Other officials have echoed those remarks.Other officials have echoed those remarks.
The terrorist attacks occurred on Wednesday in Tehran, when the Parliament building and the shrine of the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, were attacked simultaneously. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which killed 17 people and wounded dozens. All but one of the attackers were Iranian Kurds. In the episode last Wednesday, the Parliament building and the shrine of the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, were attacked simultaneously. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assaults, which killed 17 people and wounded dozens. All but one of the attackers were Iranian Kurds.
Many Iranians pointed immediately at Saudi Arabia as the mastermind of the attack, quoting a remark in May by the Saudi deputy crown prince and defense minister, Mohammed bin Salman. In a television interview, he said the kingdom would bring war to Iran. “We won’t wait for the battle to be in Saudi Arabia,” Prince Mohammed said, without elaborating. “Instead, we will work so that the battle is for them in Iran, not in Saudi Arabia.” Many Iranians pointed immediately at Saudi Arabia as the mastermind, quoting a remark in May by the Saudi deputy crown prince and defense minister, Mohammed bin Salman. In a television interview, he said the kingdom would bring war to Iran. “We won’t wait for the battle to be in Saudi Arabia,” Prince Mohammed said, without elaborating. “Instead, we will work so that the battle is for them in Iran, not in Saudi Arabia.”
On the day of the attacks, though, Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, rejected any suggestion that his country was behind them. “We condemn terrorist attacks anywhere they occur and we condemn the killing of the innocent anywhere it occurs,” Mr. Jubeir said at a news conference in Germany. On the day of the attacks, though, Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, rejected any blame. “We condemn terrorist attacks anywhere they occur, and we condemn the killing of the innocent anywhere it occurs,” Mr. Jubeir said at a news conference in Germany.
Moderate Iranian officials have also pointed fingers at Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a forum in Oslo on Tuesday, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, announced that Iran had “obtained intelligence showing that Saudi Arabia is actively propping up terrorist groups along Iranian eastern and western borders,” according to a report on Iran’s Press TV channel. He also provided no details. Moderate Iranian officials have also pointed fingers at Saudi Arabia. At a forum in Oslo on Tuesday, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, announced that Iran had “obtained intelligence showing that Saudi Arabia is actively propping up terrorist groups along Iranian eastern and western borders,” according to a report on Iran’s Press TV channel. He also provided no details.
For years, there have been deadly clashes between Iranian security forces and armed Sunni opposition groups in Iran’s Kurdish region in the west and the Baluchi area in the east. Some of these groups have increasingly emphasized their religious backgrounds, rather than a desire for independence, in justifying their armed struggle. Iran, a predominately Shia nation, has long accused Saudi Arabia, a Sunni nation, and the United States of sponsoring and even training some of these groups. For years, there have been deadly clashes between Iranian security forces and armed Sunni opposition groups in Iran’s Kurdish region in the west and the Baluchi area in the east. Some of these groups have increasingly emphasized their religious backgrounds, rather than a desire for independence, in justifying their armed struggle. Iran, a predominately Shiite nation, has long accused Saudi Arabia, a Sunni nation, and the United States of sponsoring and even training some of these groups.
Even before the terrorist attacks, tensions were high between Iran and Saudi Arabia after the May visit of President Trump to the Persian Gulf kingdom. Iran was singled out by both Mr. Trump and King Salman of Saudi Arabia as a country that needed to be isolated for its suspected sponsoring of terrorists. The increased tension also comes after Saudi Arabia led a coalition of countries severing all ties with the tiny state of Qatar, accusing it of sponsoring terror. Tensions had already been high between Iran and Saudi Arabia since President Trump’s visit in May to the Persian Gulf kingdom. Iran was singled out by both Mr. Trump and King Salman of Saudi Arabia as a country that needed to be isolated for its suspected sponsoring of terrorists. The increased tension also comes after Saudi Arabia led a coalition of countries severing all ties with the tiny state of Qatar, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism.
Iran supports Hamas and Hezbollah, but as a Shiite state has no obvious relations with the Sunnis of the Islamic State, analysts say.Iran supports Hamas and Hezbollah, but as a Shiite state has no obvious relations with the Sunnis of the Islamic State, analysts say.