Afghanistan concerns over Saudi-Iran diplomatic tensions

The Afghan government has expressed concerns over the recent diplomatic tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, said Presidential Palace on Friday.

"Afghanistan believes that neither the two Islamic countries nor the region or the world benefit from the existing situation. Thus Afghanistan requests the two brotherly countries to resolve any disputes with talks and prevent further escalation of tensions," it said in a statement.

The Saudi Arabia cut off its diplomatic relations with Iran after angry protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran over the weekend, to protest at the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

"Afghanistan believes that the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations as well as other customary international practices regarding protection and immunity of diplomatic mission obliges the host countries to prevent attack on diplomatic missions and to ensure safety and security of these entities ... Afghanistan, in the same manner that the Islamic Republic of Iran did, condemns the attacks on the embassy and consulate office of Saudi Arabia in Tehran and Mashhad respectively, and considers it a breach of Vienna Convention," it reads.

"Afghanistan pursues friendly relations with all Islamic countries as well as its neighbors and stresses on strengthening unity among all Islamic nations and thus asks for normalization of relations between the two countries," according to the statement.

Source: XINHUA