Saudi Arabia summons Iran’s ambassador over attacks on Gulf countries

ISTANBUL

Saudi Arabia summoned Iran’s ambassador on Sunday to condemn Iranian attacks targeting the country’s territory and neighboring Gulf countries.

A statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Iranian Ambassador Alireza Enayati was summoned “against the backdrop of the blatant Iranian attacks that targeted the kingdom and a number of brotherly countries.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khereiji conveyed Saudi Arabia’s “discontent, condemnation and denunciation” of the attacks, stressing the kingdom’s “firm rejection of violations of state sovereignty that undermine regional security and stability.”

The ministry stressed that Saudi Arabia would take “all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory.”

The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with a series of drone and missile attacks that targeted Israel, US assets and several Gulf countries.

Israel and the US launched a similar attack on Iran last June, triggering a 12-day war before a ceasefire was announced.