Drunk driving Saudi diplomat expelled from Iran: MP

An Iranian lawmaker says a Saudi diplomat responsible for a deadly drunk driving accident in Tehran has been expelled from Iran, and indemnity has been paid to the victims’ families.

Member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Mehdi Davatgari said on Tuesday that the Saudi diplomat was recognized as persona non grata and expelled 20 days ago.

The MP added that the Saudi Embassy in Tehran has paid compensation to the families of the crash victims.

Davatgari also called on the Saudi Judiciary to investigate charges that the diplomat was drunk driving and had bottles of alcoholic beverages in his car when he had the fatal accident, and then brief Iranian officials on the results of their probe.

On March 18, an intoxicated Saudi diplomat killed an Iranian driver and injured a passer-by in a car accident in Tehran. The Saudi diplomat rammed his vehicle into the Iranian car before veering off the road, killing the Iranian driver on the spot. Four bottles of alcoholic beverages were found in the Saudi diplomat’s car.

The cause of the accident was exceeding the speed limit and driving under the influence.