Tehran goes lenient with embassy attackers

The Iranian judiciary has decided to reduce penalties for the first group of miscreants who attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad, a week after the start of their trial. 
Judiciary spokesman Mohseni Ejei said the reason is in response to the “Saudi policy.” The Kingdom has always condemned Iran’s interference in Arab affairs. 
During his weekly press conference, Ejei described Saudi Arabia as an “enemy” — a view shared by several prominent regime figures.
In January 2015, officials and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued statements urging Basij and its supporters to storm Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad.
Tehran’s first comment on the attack was a vow to prosecute the aggressors. Yet Ejei maintains that reducing penalties is one of the steps to be taken due to Tehran’s enmity with Riyadh.
Ejei also tried to justify the attack, though Tehran condemned it following international denouncement.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had earlier said that the attack was a threat to the national security. 
Nine accused appeared in a Tehran court. Twelve other suspects were absent during the first hearings, according to Fars. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had also denounced the attack, which mars Iran’s reputation, but refused to call the aggressors extremists.

Source: Arab News