Spokesman Rejects Saudi Espionage Claims against Iran as ‘Baseless’
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi dismissed as completely false and baseless Saudi allegations against Iran, after the Riyadh regime sentenced 15 people to death for allegedly leaking details on the Saudi military to Tehran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never taken actions contrary to the international law and diplomatic principles in Saudi Arabia and such accusations are baseless and politically-motivated,” Qassemi said Tuesday.
The spokesman added that at a time when there is a dire need to promote unity and avoid further tensions in the Muslim world and the region, imposition of false and untrue accusations does not serve the interests of any country in the region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s principled policy toward the Persian Gulf littoral sates is observing good neighborliness, mutual respect and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs,” Qassemi stressed.
A court in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sentenced 15 Shiite citizens to death on trumped-up charges of spying for Iran in yet another case of crackdown on the country’s Shiite minority.
It also sentenced 15 other suspects to prison terms ranging from six months to 25 years, and acquitted two, according to Reuters.
The suspects, comprising 30 Saudi Shiite Muslims, reportedly one Iranian and an Afghan, were detained in 2013 on charges of alleged spying for Iran and went on trial in February.
The rulings are subject to appeal, and death sentences must go to the king for ratification.