Baku, Azerbaijan, May.1
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabia's chargé d'affaires in Tehran to protest against Riyadh's interception of another Iranian aid flight to war-wracked Yemen, while simultaneously, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a congratulatory message on April 30 to the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir over appointment to the post.
In his message, Zarif expressed hope that Tehran and Riyadh will witness a breakthrough in relations during al-Jubeir's tenure, IRNA reported May 1.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz has recently issued a royal decree relieving Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and also Foreign Minister Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of their positions.
According to the decree, Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been appointed as the new heir to the throne. Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir was also appointed as the new foreign minister replacing Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud after four decades of service.
According to Iran's Foreign Ministry's announcement on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's most senior diplomat in Tehran was summoned after Saudi fighter jets prevented an Iranian plane, which was carrying medical aid, from landing in the international airport in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.
Tehran expresses its strong objection to the move by Riyadh's warplanes which endangered the lives of the flight crew and the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) staff on board, said a high-ranking official at Iran's Foreign Ministry during his meeting with the Saudi diplomat.
The Iranian official rejected the interception of Tehran's aid plane as totally unacceptable and said such an air blockade runs counter to humanitarian standards and international aviation rules.
He also called on Riyadh to immediately halt the inhumane siege of the Yemeni people and its unfair air strikes on the Arab country, saying intra-Yemeni dialog is the only way to end the current political deadlock in the Arab country.
Edited by CN