Tehran-Riyadh Differences Not Religious

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi underlined that religion plays no role in the differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia, stressing that Israel is benefiting the most from the rift between the two major Muslim states. “Undoubtedly, tensions between the two countries don’t have religious roots since we believe that unity in the Muslim world is a basic [rule] and therefore, we respect all religions and sects and some small differences provide no good reasons for going toward violence,” Qasemi said in an interview with Kuwait’s al-Jaridah newspaper on Monday, as cited by Fars News Agency. Stressing that the root cause of the disagreements between Tehran and Riyadh should be found, he said, “The Zionist regime is benefiting the most from current conflicts between Iran and Saudi Arabia.” Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January following attacks on its diplomatic posts in Tehran and Mashhad by protesters furious at the Saudi government for executing prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr without a proper trial on unsubstantiated charges.