On Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a decision granting the Iranian military attaché in the kingdom, along with his assistant and three members of the mission, a 24-hour deadline to leave the country, considering them undesirable individuals.
This action comes amid rising tensions between Riyadh and Tehran following repeated Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated in its announcement that these attacks constitute blatant violations of international laws and agreements, contrary to the principles of good neighborliness that should prevail in relationships between states.
In a related context, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman reviewed regional security developments, including military escalation in the Middle East, during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Jeddah. It was emphasized that these Iranian attacks pose not only a threat to Saudi sovereignty but also to the stability and security of the entire region.
Egypt, for its part, expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, affirming the need to unify efforts to confront Iranian hostile activities targeting Arab countries.
The repercussions extend beyond bilateral relations between Riyadh and Tehran, affecting the regional situation in general. Over the past two days, Saudi Arabia has launched counterattacks against drones launched by Iran, with the Saudi Ministry of Defense announcing the interception of 51 drones. At the same time, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE faced hundreds of missile and drone attacks, asserting their right to self-defense according to international laws.
On the international front, Bahrain has begun to enhance its efforts to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with the support of countries like the United States, Britain, and France to confront Iranian aggression against global trade, as this navigation route is a vital artery for transporting energy and goods across seas.
The Iranian military attaché and his supportive staff are considered part of the general context of Iranian policies in the region, where a state of ongoing tension prevails between Tehran and Gulf states, exacerbated by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East.
This escalation comes at a sensitive time, as the region is engulfed in intertwined political and security crises, particularly with ongoing events in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, as well as the civil war in Lebanon.
Additionally, many Arab countries feel alarmed by the Iranian tendencies seen as potential threats to their stability, necessitating enhanced Arab cooperation to address these challenges.
The situation continues to require close monitoring from all parties and is closely linked to efforts to achieve peace in the region.