It's On: Saudi Arabia Severs Diplomatic Ties With Iran, "Does Not Care" If It Has Angered White House
Earlier today, as Iranian police struggled to disperse protesters gathered outside the Saudi consulate in Mashhad, we said the following about the rapidly deteriorating situation:
If crude needed an excuse to rally, then surely this is it as it now appears that in addition to the fact that Riyadh and Tehran are squaring off in Syria (where Iran is present and the Saudis fight by proxy) and Yemen (where the Saudis are present and the Iranians fight by proxy), the two countries are on the verge of a historic diplomatic crisis which has the potential to stoke sectarian violence across the Muslim world.
Well sure enough, just hours later, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Ahmad Al-Jubeir announced that Riyadh has cut diplomatic ties with Tehran. The Saudis have demanded the Iran mission leave the country within 48 hours.
Jubeir said the attack in Tehran was in line with what he said were earlier Iranian assaults on foreign embassies there and with Iranian policies of destabilizing the region by creating "terrorist cells" in Saudi Arabia.
"The kingdom, in light of these realities, announces the cutting of diplomatic relations with Iran and requests the departure of delegates of diplomatic missions of the embassy and consulate and offices related to it within 48 hours. The ambassador has been summoned to notify them," he said.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir
Riyadh also claims Iran did not attempt to stop protesters from storming the consulate.
Here's are the main bullet points:
- SAUDI TO FIGHT TERRORISM IN ALL OF ITS FORMS: AL-JUBEIR
- IRAN HAS SPREAD CHAOS, SECTARIANISM IN REGION, MINISTER SAYS
- AL-JUBEIR COMMENTS BROADCAST ON AL-EKHBARIYA SAUDI STATE TV
- ALL OPTIONS ON TABLE TO PROTECT SAUDIS, FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS
- IRAQ PROMISED TO PROTECT SAUDI DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS: AL-JUBEIR
-
SAUDI ARABIA DETERMINED NOT TO ALLOW IRAN TO UNDERMINE SAUDI SECURITY-FOREIGN MINISTER
Promptly thereafter, Washington responded to Saudi Arabia's decision by calling for leaders throughout the region to take "affirmative steps" to reduce tensions, Reuters reports.
"We're aware of reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ordered the closure of Iranian diplomatic missions in the Kingdom," an Obama administration official said.
"We believe that diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential in working through differences and we will continue to urge leaders across the region to take affirmative steps to calm tensions."
However, at this point the Saudis are beyond caring what Obama thinks, and made that quite clear. As reported previously, here’s the latest out of Riyadh, via Reuters:
- SAUDI ARABIA DOES NOT CARE IF IT HAS ANGERED THE WHITE HOUSE, SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH SAUDI GOVERNMENT'S THINKING SAYS: RTRS
- SAUDI ARABIA'S POSITION TOWARD IRAN IS 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,' SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH SAUDI GOVERNMENT'S THINKING SAYS: RTRS
For those who might have missed it, the situation began to unravel on Saturday after Riyadh said it had executed prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr along with 46 other prisoners. Protesters poured into the streets from Bahrain to Pakistan and before the night was done, the Saudi embassy in Tehran was in flames.
All of this comes as Iran is projecting its influence in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, posing a threat to Saudi regional hegemony just as international sanctions on Tehran are set to be lifted.
The comments from Al-Jubeir seem to indicate that Riyadh is set to step up efforts to rein in the so-called "Shiite crescent", possibly by getting more involved in Syria, doubling down on the kingdom's commitment to the fight in Yemen, and, quite possibly, taking a more assertive role in Iraq by using the fight against ISIS as a smokescreen for some manner of intervention.
It's also worth noting how absurd it is for the Saudis to suggest that the Iranians are the ones "spreading chaos and sectarianism" in the region. After all, it wasn't Tehran that just executed a prominent member of another sect and it's not Iran that preaches a dangerous, ultra puritanical interpretation of Islam similar to that which Sunni extremists use to justify the execution of apostates. Further, it wasn't Iran that destabilized Syria by fanning the flames of sectarian discord.
In any event, this an exceptionally serious situation that could well mushroom into a direct conflict between the two countries which are already on opposite sides of multiple regional proxy wars.
(47 votes)
»
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -
Middle east gets dumber and less rational with each new generation. Google how common it is in the middle east for cousins to marry.
Jewish tradition is that their children are only jewish by the maternal line. Perhaps that is why they are inbred, and drag the USA into the medievalist ways; Yinon Plan, Wolfowitz Doctrine, Project for a New American Century et cetera.
All bullshit; un American.
American men and women dislike the old world intensely.
Get ready.
I don't think so or they wouldn't have troops everywhere. Everybody could save truckloads of money dismantling this system, those who pay protection and those sit around oiling their guns, frustrated that the war has not come yet.
If they'd dislike the old world, they would not have Africom in Stuttgart but maye it's about getting a cheap Merc.
If the fight is now Sunni against Shiites, we could just leave them to it perhaps.
Boy,
I am only going to say this once. Pay attention. It is all about the money, and common people die for that, although common people own their land, their labor. They are many, but manipulated by the few.
Own it because they occupy it.
In all fairness all ashkenazi jews are descendants from jewish mothers and unknown local dudes, generation after generation.
GIRL FIGHT !
Well there's really only one bitch in this fight and she's gonna find out the hard way that Iran does not "fight like a girl". The house of Saud bit off waaaay more than they can chew in this one. Even whoever talked them into this insane turn of events won't escape unscathed. Seriously, Iran is no middle east scaredy cat. Surely Saudi knows this... so I want to know who is forcing their hand on this.
Funny how this happened just after the Turkish leader met with the Saud family. So if Iran gets pissed and attacks the Sauds then the Turks will fight the Persians. Hmmm.
And Russia will take care of turks while Iran takes care of House of Saudomy
You mised the Armenians in there. They are NOT FAR.
I hope our Armenian friends are going to lend a hand or two.
Sort of like "One for the Gipper", eh?
LOL, hate to be short oil right now. :)
Build a boxing ring around the middle east and lets hope the sourounding areas can hold the ropes.
The various groups are fighting to sell their various formulas of Koolaids. Lets hope it remains a proxy war.
I cannot accept that idea. One child is every child. It is just plain wrong for the USA to be manipulated by the old world, and its petty fiefdom mentality whereby zionist vs islamist slugs it out over the dead bodies of MY troops; our blood and treasure.
'War Is A Racket' (US Marine General Smedley Butler, the most decorated American soldier, two time recipient of the Medal of Honor).
He wrote that book in the 1930s, and it is true today.
WTF
It is the role of US to manipulate the whole world... and get involved in every conflict whereever it is.
Or what do you want to say?
Perhaps, if you are in NYC, get over for a drink? ;-)
Cheers.. We are family, the USA, right or wrong. Trade on...
Am in UK at the moment. Batten down the hatches. A fierce un wind comes our way...margin call.
Life imitating art: https://youtu.be/kHHitXxH-us?t=46s
This is all about propping up a bunch of despotic camel jockeys running out of time fast.
Dear William.
No.
This is all about money, nothing else.
On that, we must agree to disagree.
Condolences for your recent bereavement. You are the new Hogarth, imo. Your parents raised you well.
Thank you for your kind words.
I spent a few hours with a Saudi national last month. He is a Sunni and I was surprised at some of the things he said as well as his attitude about all the shit going on in the ME.
My conclusion was that the rein of the Royal Family is more precarious than I thought. All is not well in the desert kingdom. The man on the street does not see things the way the entitled ones do.
Why would Saudi's action anger Washington, which has been trying to create chaos in Iran. Not so long ago the US was evening planning to attack Iran.
One reason Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been blatantly supporting terrorists in the Middle East has been that the US is behind their back.
Washington hopes the price of oil will go up, to save the western banks. Wall St. is about 20% invested in energy. What a mess if oil doesn't go up. Maybe another BS plot, maybe not. But I think that no matter what happens, all these desperate greedy oil producing countries will continue to move their oil if they can, meaning of course the price of oil may not go up or up much. So the defaults will begin. Many frackers are down to the wire on their loans, and the Sauds are running out of bribe money to keep law and order at home.
Kettle meet coffee
Will this really anger the whitehouse? Perhaps publically. But keep in mind the "flatten 7 countires in 5 years" program INCLUDES IRAN.
For all that the US has going on elsewhere in the world, combined with how much many of us citizens can't stand our gov't, I have a hard time seeing the US get out of all this in one piece. Pretty sure there's a rough ride ahead.
Well spotted.. It is so very easy to pit brother against brother; make mayhem in the Middle East...all while the snake slithers beneath and nazionism waits to win when they kill each other. That is the plot.
Won't happen with Russia around the corner. But it is interesting. We'll see what the world's most bankrupt country does next.
We get limitless digital zeros to burn! LOL.
Promptly thereafter, Washington responded to Saudi Arabia's decision by calling for leaders throughout the region to take "affirmative steps" to reduce tensions, Reuters reports.
This from a profoundly failed president who has bombed seven brown countries.
Jesus H. Christ on a fucking camel.
Killng Christians is the whole point of the medievalist Zionist vs Islamists plot. The Talmud forces all that hatred against secularist, traders, and common community.
Christians are dyng in the land of our ancestors, while nasty zionist vs islamist tell the world to obey.
My son's UK public school friend of the House of Saud does not agree with that.
Old men make wars. Young men die. End the Fed.
Here is a lovely Rant. That includes The Saudies and the UK Royals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6QdXDrR7qg&feature=youtu.be
Up there with Inthemix69. Enjoy.
Or Moe Hammid on a camel. Doesn't matter now, does it? lol
There is no way that US troops are going into this mess...
Another war started on a Sunday? Oh, my.
BureauRats die if our troops are forced again.
USMC. Huzzah.
Let see, one country is flat suitable for a parking lot war easily won - a Bush war. And the other country is impossibly mountainous, miles of swamps at sea accesss...Seems like a bad plan to engage in War.
Let see, one country is flat suitable for a parking lot war easily won - a Bush war. And the other country is impossibly mountainous, miles of swamps at sea accesss...Seems like a bad plan to engage in War.
Attack on KSA oil chokepoint by Mossad in 3, 2, 1...
Quick, let's get out of the ME and take over SA via Colombia...erm...wait...oh...we've already done that. Who else can't wait until we fire up the machine and start crushing the skulls of babies south of the border again? Holy shit. When does the fucking madness end? http://beta.foreignassistance.gov/explore
<- Earlier the euroPeons in colonial times used the same strategy : Divide & Conquer in Asia, subjugated small kingdoms & looted their gold , diamonds , silver, pearls etc all treasuries at the cost of more than 10 million deaths.
Now , mid-east has the oil-wealth and here too same strategy : Divide & Conquer
Divide the muslims & loot their oil, turkey has blatently looted thru ISIS but west wants moar, fortunately Russia stepped in.
Like a flustered cat Saudis (the offspring of jewwishWhoresInTurkey)
are doing things (prob'ly at the behest of Satan America their homo-lover)
so that Iran leaders issue cracking statements
and then Saudis will ask west (USA) to
again sanction Iran
------------
Advice to Iran :
Whatever happens , do not issue statements of revenge , killing & attack on Saudi Arabia or any other country.
Rather - Talk peace, talk compassion, talk about progress
while at the same time secretly develop nuclear bombs especially hydrogen bomb
or rather buy H-bomb from North Korea
Also develop solid state missiles which can reach USA
again take help from N.Korea
Keep smiling (& keep the gun ready)
Saudi Arabia - check
N. Korea - check
Japan - check
China - check
USA - Half-a-check (dual citizens with conflict of interest)
Canada - check
UK - Undecided
Russia - check
France - check
Egypt - check
Turkey - check
Syria - check
Yemen - check
Libya - check
Iraq - check
Cyprus - check
Ukraine - Gagged by a foreign body
Palestine - Hostage situation
There is a country being surrounded but it is not Iran anymore. The wealth of this world rests in a within the constantly moving borders of The Bizarre State of Israel. Seize that country's wealth and be the world's greatest hero since the first man who attempted and failed. A bible could be written based on your life.
Take it and give it out like candy to babies. Seize the gold and priceless artifacts and return them to the world's people. Take this band of thieves and make an example of what happens when anyone messes with Mother Nature's creation, human beings. We have been on our knees to these crazy greedy old fucks for way too long. We won't live long anyway. Let's do it. Let's steal the treasures in Israel which they stole from us! WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!
::Throws Shoe::
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4zbFEHZbOU In the Valley Below - Peaches.
What wealth?
My mouse click gave it to you 6+ point for the fun.
My mouse click gave it to you 6+ point for the fun and good tip for good Iran.
Why does it appear that certain individuals are desperate to turn any news about Saudis behaving badly into a discussion of Israel?
Almost like they're being paid to sow confusion...
Its kinda hard to ignore when Israel and SA are always getting caught having butt sex.
That's not what's happening here. This is the Saudis having chopped off one head too many and an extension of their long-running hot/cold war with Iran.
No Israelis involved at all, and yet some people are absolutely determined to make them the focus whenever the Saudis fuck up. This has happened on at least a dozen articles here over the past two months.
At a certain point it gets hard to ignore the over-the-topness of the deflections and specificity to the topic of Saudi Arabia. What's really going on here?
It's mossad agent provocateurs. They're trying to get the site classified as white supremacist. Makes it much easier to discredit.
The provocateurs provoke and zerohedge green arrows.
Shit, everybody's got their hands in this mess directly and indirectly, pushing, pulling, nudging playing the time and memorial Shiite Sunni divide for regional hegemony. No doubt this was provocative on the Saudi's part. Some folks like to focus on just one or two actors when really there's a full freaking stage of actors. Shit, the fucking Med is a warship parking lot. And the steady parade of refugee's continue to pressure governments in the region and on different continents. It's a shit sandwich not just for the regional peoples but the world. No good guys, only bad to worst actors.