Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned the Iranian drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh which authorities said caused a limited fire and building damage.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of the flagrant Iranian attack that targeted the US Embassy building in Riyadh,” a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry said.
The statement further called the attack “cowardly” and “unjustified,” stressing that it is in violation of “all international legal norms” such as the Geneva Convention and the Vienna Convention which grants immunity to diplomatic missions and their staff in the event of an armed conflict.
Moreover, it warned that Iran’s “flagrant behavior” could push the region to a further escalation, stressing that the Iranian attacks occurred despite Iran knowing that Saudi Arabia had assured that it would not allow for its airspace and territory to be used to launch attacks on the Islamic Republic.
“The Kingdom reaffirms its full right to take all necessary measures to protect its security, territorial integrity, citizens, residents, and vital interests, including the option of responding to the aggression.”
Since Saturday, Israel and the US have launched armed attacks on targets in Iran. Iran, in turn, has launched both counterattacks on Israeli and US targets across the region, in addition to indiscriminate attacks on neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly pushed for dialogue with Iran and not allowed for its land or air to be used as a launchpad for attacks on Iran. It has managed to fight off most Iranian drones and missile attacks, condemned these actions just as attacks on its neighbors and reserved its right to respond to them.
