Deputy FM: Terrorists behind Assassination of Iranian Diplomat in Yemen Identified

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian underlined that Tehran is seriously pursuing the assassination and abduction cases of its diplomats in Sana’a, adding that the terrorists behind the assassination of its commercial attache have been identified.
The Iranian official said on Friday that a joint investigation committee has identified the terrorists who assassinated the Iranian diplomat Abolqassem Assadi.

“Further details about the matter will be offered to the Iranian nation, hopefully soon,” said the deputy foreign minister.

Amir Abdollahian said that the investigation committee is pursuing its job seriously and as soon as they will come up with definite results, the names of the terrorists and the involved factors will be announced.

He said that a foreign country has been involved in the assassination, whose name will be announced after collecting of sufficient documents.

On Wednesday, Amir Abdollahian voiced concern over the security conditions in Yemen, and cautioned that Tehran will take action if Sana’a officials fail to protect the lives of the Iranian diplomats in that country.

“We expect the Yemeni government to act more responsibly in protecting the security of the diplomats in Yemen and act more responsibly in respecting the recognized international conventions otherwise the Islamic Republic will take more proper decisions,” Amir Abdollahian said in Tehran on the sidelines of the funeral ceremony of Iran’s diplomat Abolqassem Assadi who was assassinated in Sana’a last Saturday.

He described the regional situation as “sensitive”, and warned that the terrorist and Takfiri groups are attempting to create more insecurity in the region by launching attacks on diplomatic targets.

Last Saturday, Assadi was gunned down by unknown gunmen outside his home in the Yemeni capital.

A few hours later, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham announced that the Iranian diplomat had succumbed to his injuries.

Afkham expressed deep regret over the death of the Iranian diplomat, and explained, “A terrorist group attacked an Iranian embassy’s diplomat in a Sana’a street and tried to kidnap him, but due to the resistance shown by the diplomat they have started shooting at him.”

Afkham strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Iranian diplomat, and said, “Iran is seriously following up the terrorist attack with the concerned Yemeni officials.”

Also, in July 2013, unknown assailants abducted the Iranian embassy staff member, Nikbakht, in Safr street in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.