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Drunk Saudi diplomat to receive legal punishment

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An Iranian legislator says a drunk Saudi diplomat who recently killed an Iranian citizen in a car accident should receive his due punishment according to the Iranian law.

Spokesman for Iran Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Seyyed Hossein Naqavi-Hosseini said on Thursday that the diplomatic immunity for diplomats does not cover violation of traffic laws, and diplomats will be punished for traffic offenses.

He said diplomatic immunity should not cause diplomats to break the law, noting that the Saudi diplomat is an offender and must face justice through legal channels as he was driving under the influence.

On March 18, a drunk Saudi Embassy staffer killed an Iranian driver and injured a passer-by in a car accident in a northeastern neighborhood in Tehran.

The Saudi staffer rammed his vehicle into the Iranian car before veering off the road. The Iranian driver was killed on the spot.

Four bottles of alcoholic beverage were found in the Saudi Embassy employee’s car. Police were present at the scene and started an investigation into the case.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on March 19 that “The Foreign Ministry immediately followed the issue through judicial and diplomatic channels after being informed [of the accident] and has taken the necessary measures in this regard.”

Mehmanparast mentioned violating Iranian laws, exceeding the speed limit and driver’s intoxication as the causes of the deadly accident, adding that Iran has strongly protested over the Saudi Embassy staffer’s behavior and has notified the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran of its complaint.

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