OIC Statement "Unacceptable"

The Foreign Ministry dismissed as “unacceptable” the statement released by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in a special meeting convened at the request of Saudi Arabia over the Nov. 2 storming of its diplomatic premises in Tehran and Mashhad.

The ministry noted that the statement issued by the Riyadh-based OIC fails to consider prompt measures taken by the Iranian government to address the issue, IRNA reported.  

The crisis erupted after Saudi Arabia executed leading Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, triggering outrage among Shias across the region. After protesters stormed the Saudi missions, Riyadh cut relations with Tehran.      

In its final statement on Thursday evening, the OIC condemned the attacks on Saudi buildings and criticized what it described as "inflammatory Iranian statements on the implementation of court rulings against a number of perpetrators of terrorist crimes in Saudi Arabia".

In response, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the statement "has turned a blind eye to the realities of the Saudi Embassy incident and the prompt action by Iran's government to contain the situation, restore security [to the Saudi diplomatic premises] and prosecute the perpetrators."

"The statement is unacceptable to the Islamic Republic of Iran because it is a violation of the UN and OIC charters and international law," Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaber Ansari, said.

  Divisive Move

"The hasty and irresponsible moves by the Saudi government to push for holding the extraordinary meeting and issue the non-unanimous statement has, in effect, created division among OIC member states," the Iranian statement said.  

The OIC statement used the embassy incident as grounds for accusing Tehran of following interventionist policies, denouncing "Iran's interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region and other countries.

Tehran has consistently denied Riyadh's allegations of meddling in the internal affairs of Arab countries.  

Ansari accused the Arab kingdom of hijacking the Muslim body by lobbying to advance its own interests.

"The organization that convened to discuss an issue irrelevant to its normal agenda is being used to deliver exclusive services to a single country … The fulfillment of the OIC's goals and priorities rests on cohesion, cooperation and harmony among the members rather than the adoption of hostile positions," Ansari said.