Iran summons Saudi ambassador following the execution of six Iranian nationals

On Wednesday, the Director General of the Consular Affairs Office at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Karimi Shasati, revealed that the ambassador had been formally presented with a strongly worded protest note from the Islamic Republic.

He stated that the Saudi ambassador was informed that the executions stand in contrast to the ongoing efforts towards judicial cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, highlighting the necessity for an explanation.

According to Shasati, the Saudi judiciary sentenced these individuals to death several years ago on charges related to drug trafficking. Throughout this period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consistently worked to offer consular assistance and sought to have their sentences reduced.

The decision to proceed with the executions without notifying the Iranian embassy in advance is deemed “completely unacceptable” and constitutes a breach of international legal standards, such as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, he stated.

A representative confirmed that a legal and consular team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to visit Riyadh to further investigate the situation.

A report jointly released by Reprieve and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR) unveils that Saudi Arabia executed at least 1,243 individuals from 2010 to 2021. This alarming figure positions the nation among the world’s leading countries in terms of execution frequency.

International human rights organizations have highlighted their concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding capital punishment in Saudi Arabia. They assert that the true count of executions remains undisclosed, as Saudi authorities do not release details pertaining to capital trial proceedings, maintaining a veil of secrecy over such cases.