Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir has denied that Pakistan mediated in the recent Saudi-Iran row, the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported Monday.
“Some countries had offered to mediate and communicate ideas between Riyadh and Tehran, stressing that Iran knows what is required from it and there will not be mediation unless Iran responds positively,” BNA report quoted Jubeir speaking on the sidelines of the first ministerial session of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-India Cooperation Forum.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif last week met the Saudi and Iranian leaderships in their respective capitals as a step for defusing tensions between the two Muslim countries.
Upon the conclusion of his “mediation trip” PM had said Pakistan’s initiative was welcomed in both capitals. “Saudi leadership told me that they did not see Iran as an enemy and I heard similar sentiments from Iranian leaders, who too are not in favour of tensions,” the premier said at the time.
The Saudi-Iran tensions were sparked by execution of Saudi dissident Sheikh Nimr and the subsequent attack on Saudi mission in Iran by protesters.