Hours after Saudi Arabia announced the execution of six Iranians on charges of “smuggling hashish,” the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Saudi ambassador to Tehran, Abdullah bin Saud Al-Anazi,
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, in a statement, that it “handed the Saudi ambassador a strongly worded note of protest against the news of the execution of the death sentence, stressing that “this measure completely contradicts the course of judicial cooperation between the two countries.”
Director General of Consular Affairs, Karimi Shasti, considered that “carrying out the execution without prior notification to the Iranian embassy constitutes an absolutely unacceptable measure and a violation of international law, including the Treaty on Consular Relations.”
According to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “a legal and consular delegation from the Iranian Foreign Ministry is heading to Riyadh to follow up on this file.”
The Saudi Ministry of Interior issued a “statement regarding the implementation of the death sentence against a number of perpetrators in the Eastern Province.”
The Saudi Interior Ministry reported, in a statement, that “Jassem Muhammad Shabani, Abdul-Rida Younis Tanqasiri, Khalil Shahid Samri, Muhammad Jawad Abdul-Jalil, Mehdi Kanaan Ghanmi, and Hur Muhammad Shabani, all Iranians, smuggled narcotic hashish into the Kingdom.”
The statement added: “The security authorities were able to arrest the aforementioned perpetrators, and their investigation resulted in them being accused of committing the crime, and referring them to the competent court, and a ruling was issued against them establishing what was attributed to them and killing them as a punishment, and the ruling became final after it was appealed and then upheld by the Supreme Court.” A royal order was issued to enforce what was decided by law.”
The Saudi Ministry of Interior’s statement continued: “The death sentence was carried out as a discretionary punishment against the perpetrators, Jassem Muhammad Shabani, Abd al-Rida Younis Tanqasiri, Khalil Shahid Samri, Muhammad Jawad Abd al-Jalil, Mahdi Kanaan Ghanmi, and Hur Muhammad Shabani, Iranian nationals, in the Eastern Province.”
Italy steps up diplomatically following the arrest of a journalist in Iran
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that he had summoned the Iranian ambassador to Rome, Mohammad Reza Sabouri, following the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Tehran.
Tajani explained, through a post on the “X” platform today, Thursday, that “he assigned the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold a meeting with the Iranian ambassador today.”
The minister stressed that “the Italian government has been working continuously since Sala’s arrest to ensure her release,” adding: “We demand that all her rights be respected, and we will remain by her and her family’s side until she is released.”
Iran had previously announced that Sala, who entered the country on December 13, 2024 on a press visa, was arrested on the 19th of the same month on charges of violating Iranian laws. The Iranian authorities stated in a statement last Monday that the case file is still under investigation, stressing that the arrest was carried out in accordance with legal procedures.
The statement added, “The Italian embassy in Tehran was immediately informed of the incident, and all consular rights were provided to the journalist, including the ability to communicate with her family by phone.”
In turn, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated, “The media must deal with the issue with caution, to avoid escalating the situation.”
Last updated: January 2, 2025 – 16:46
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