Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday that it had executed six Iranian men for drug smuggling, prompting sharp objections from Iran as the two nations work to repair their strained relationship.
According to the Saudi Interior Ministry, the men were caught smuggling hashish into the kingdom and executed after the Supreme Court rejected their appeal.
The ministry did not specify when the executions took place but stated that the punishment aligned with Islamic law and was intended to protect citizens and residents “from the scourge of drugs.”
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador in protest, as reported by the official IRNA news agency. Iran plans to send a delegation to Riyadh to discuss the matter further.
Mojtaba Shasti Karimi, an Iranian Foreign Ministry official, criticised the executions, stating they were inconsistent with the broader trend of judicial cooperation between the two nations. He added that Saudi Arabia’s decision to proceed without prior notification to Iran was “not acceptable under any circumstance.”
The executions come as Saudi Arabia and Iran attempt to rebuild ties, having restored diplomatic relations in early 2023 after a seven-year rift.
Credit: Veritynewsonline
