Ex-Envoy Says Saudi Rulers Involved in Revenge Plot

A former envoy to Germany listed evidence to bolster Tehran's case that Saudi Arabia was behind last week's terrorist attacks on the Iranian Majlis and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder Islamic Republic.

The so-called Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the twin attacks on Wednesday that claimed 17 lives.

Speaking in a recent interview with the Real News, Hossein Mousavian said there is "clear evidence that IS terrorist attack in Tehran is managed, orchestrated by Saudi Arabia, in order to confront Iran."

"The reason is clear. Iran is the real major force fighting IS in the region, from Syria to Iraq, to Yemen, everywhere. That's why Saudi Arabia is trying to avenge Iran, because IS is the real asset, IS and Jabhat al-Nusra, all these terrorists groups, they are the real assets of Saudi Arabia in the region, and Iran is fighting them. Therefore, this is a revenge terrorist activity orchestrated by Saudis inside Tehran."

The former nuclear negotiator cited remarks by Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud, in May, that Riyadh would bring "the battle" for regional influence to Iran and a hostile twitter message by the top Saudi diplomat shortly before the attacks.

   Real King

"This was public announcement of the defense minister of Saudi Arabia who is the real king. I mean, he is the real power in Saudi Arabia, and just some hours before the terrorist attack, [Adel] al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, publicly said Tehran should be punished because of its regional policies."

Mousavian highlighted a multi-billion dollar arms deal between Riyadh and Washington when US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, where the hawkish Republican accused Tehran of supporting terrorism in the Middle East.

"You remember we had President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia about two weeks ago, and there was about 300 billion dollars of arms sales [and other deals] and the whole narrative of his trip to Saudi Arabia, selling billions of dollars worth of sophisticated US arms, was to confront Iran."

Saudi Arabia's decision days earlier to cut diplomatic ties with neighboring Qatar for its Iran links and alleged support for regional terrorism further fuels speculations of the oil kingdom's involvement in the terrorist act, Mousavian said.

"They are also saying that Saudi Arabia is punishing Qatar, because Qatar is going to have normal relations with Iran."

  Evil Triangle

The foreign policy analyst said it is clear that a "triangle of Saudi Arabia, the US and Israelis" has been formed to confront Iran.

Hours after the terrorist move, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, "Terror-sponsoring despots threaten to bring the fight to our homeland. Proxies attack what their masters despise most: the seat of democracy," in an apparent reference to bin Salman's remarks.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in a statement, echoed Tehran's take on the issue and vowed to seek revenge.

"This terrorist attack happened only a week after the meeting between the US president and the [Saudi] backward leaders who support terrorists. The fact that Islamic State has claimed responsibility proves that they (Saudi rulers) were involved in the brutal attack," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia has denied any involvement in the Tehran attacks.