Remains of deceased senior Iranian diplomat transported to Iran from Saudi Arabia

Remains of Iranian senior diplomat Ghazanfar Roknabadi were returned to Iran from Saudi Arabia on 26NOV15, with a ceremonious funeral held 27NOV15 in Tehran.

Iranian media reported the body of Roknabadi, who was declared missing, was identified through fingerprints and DNA testing.  [source: RFE/RL]

Secondary testing will be used to determine if Roknabadi died in the hajj crush, his brother was quoted saying by ISNA news agency.

"If the result of examinations in Tehran contradicts the Saudis' claim that my brother died in the Mina incident we will complain via international forums," Morteza Roknabadi said.

He acknowledged the rumours about his brother's death, which followed recent remarks by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. [source: AFP]

Following is Iran media imagery of the transfer of Roknabadi's remains at THR:

Aircraft observed in transporting of Roknabad's remains to THR is Iran Air Airbus A320-232, reg. EP-IEB (cn 575)

Artesh presidential guard serve as pallbearers 26NOV15 at Mehrabad International Airport

Lebanese Hezbollah flag displayed at funeral procession for Ghazanfar Roknabadi

Until last year, Roknabadi was Tehran's envoy to Beirut, a highly sensitive post. Lebanon is home to the Iranian-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah, allied with President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war, who Riyadh has repeatedly urged to stand down. [source: AFP]

Imagery of the deceased on IRI flag-draped coffin, during funeral procession in Tehran

Bereaved family members during the funeral of Ghazanfar Roknabadi, in Tehran

Bereaved family members with image of the deceased at the funeral of Ghazanfar Roknabadi, in Tehran

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Iran Says It Walks Out of Syria Talks if “Unproductive”

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian today criticized what he called Saudi Arabia’s “unconstructive role” in recent Syria talks in Vienna, threatening to walk out of the talks should the next meeting be “unproductive.”

“Some countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, played negative and nonconstructive roles (in the recent meeting), as they could not provide a logic for their positions vis-à-vis Syria’s conflict,” Abdollahian said. “If the negotiations will be ‘a show’ and rights of the Syrian people are ignored, Iran will pull out of the talks.” (Xinuha, 2 November)

Following Syria talks on Friday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the talks should entail a decision on a date and means for the departure of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Syria, including Iran. 

A day later, Jubeir used a high-profile regional security conference in Bahrain to accuse Iran of attempting to smuggle weapons to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as well as meddling in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, Reuters reported.

File photo: Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (IRNA)

First Iran Hajj Stampede Dead Flown Home (1)

The Iranian honor guard carries the caskets of Iranian pilgrim, killed in a stampede at Hajj nine days ago, during a ceremony on their arrival. Tehran, 3 October 2015 (Atta Kenare/AFP)

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UPDATE: President Hassan Rouhani and other top Iranian officials laid white flowers on coffins at a somber ceremony on Saturday in Tehran for the 104 pilgrims, among 464 Iranians declared dead or missing in the stampede. More bodies will arrive later today. Iranian health minister said not all Iranian dead had yet been found.

Iranian Warship Escorts Cargo Vessel to Yemen

Iran said its humanitarian aid ship, M/V Iran Shahed, has reached the Gulf of Aden en route to the Yemeni port of Hudaydah, the country’s largest, and is expected to reach its destination by Thursday 21 May. The Iranian navy also announced its warship IRINS Alborz (72), an Alvand (Vosper MK5)-class frigate, will escort the cargo ship to Hudaydah. The replenishment ship Bandar Abbas (421) is also accompanying Alborz. Iran is challenging the Saudi-led coalition power to inspect Yemen-bound ships to enforce UN arms embargo against the Huthis. 

File photo: IRINS Alborz (72), an Alvand (Vosper MK5)-class frigate (Rooholla Vahdati/ISNA)

Khamenei: U.S. Orchestrating ‘Terrorism’

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United States of “orchestrating terrorism” in the region.

“The U.S. is the designer and supporter of terrorism,” Khamenei said, adding that the U.S. has “formed” the most dangerous terrorist groups such as ISIL. “Iran, on the other hand, has strongly fought against terrorism,” Khamenei added. (IRNA/Press TV, 16 May)

Khamenei also said that the “wicked policies of hegemonic powers in the region are aimed at waging proxy wars.” He had choice words for Saudi Arabia and its role in Yemen. “Those who kill the Yemeni people are worse than infidels.”


Comment: Khamenei’s choice of words and phrases describing the U.S. was interesting: Supporting terrorism, waging proxy wars and desire for hegemony in the region. Phrases increasingly used referring to the Islamic Republic’s behavior in the region; as though Khamenei wanted to throw them back to the Americans.

His use of the word “infidel” to describe the Saudi leaders was probably the harshest attack he has yet launched against the Kingdom. It was risky too: If Saudis are waging a war in Yemen to keep their preferred regime in power, so are the Iranians doing the same in Syria, for more than four years! These are tense times in the region, seen in the anger expressed so openly by the leaders.

Photo credit: Khamenei with Iranian officials gathering to congratulate him on the Eid Mabas; Tehran, 16 May 2015 (IRNA/Press TV)

Iran Says its Navy Will Protect Aid Ship Heading to Yemen

Iran Warns to 'Start War' if Its Vessel is Attacked

U.S. Warns Tehran against ‘Stunt’

An Iranian vessel, Iran Shahed, has moved through the Strait of Hormuz and is heading toward Yemen to deliver humanitarian aid, Iranian news agencies announced on Tuesday. The ship also carries relief workers and peace activists from different countries.

The UN has set up a delivery hub in Djibouti for distribution of humanitarian aid to Yemen. Iran said the aid vessel will be protected by its navy. It was not clear why warships should escort a civilian vessel carrying humanitarian aid, unless Iran planned to send the ship directly to a Yemeni port, instead of Djibouti, to challenge the Saudi-led naval blockade of Yemen.  

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency quoted the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, as warning today that Iran “would launch war on any state that dares to attack the Iranian ship that is on its way to Yemen with a humanitarian cargo.” (Fars News Agency, 12 May)

“Attacking the Iranian Red Crescent aid ship will spark war in the region,” Jazayeri added.

The U.S. said today the Iranian ship carrying aid to Yemen should change course and head to Djibouti where the United Nations is overseeing humanitarian deliveries to Yemen. The U.S. Navy is tracking the ship after Iran said it would send warships to escort the vessel to Yemen, said Pentagon spokesman Col. Steven Warren.

“The Iranians have stated that this is humanitarian aid,” Warren said. “If that is the case, then we certainly encourage the Iranians to deliver that humanitarian aid to the United Nations humanitarian aid distribution hub, which has been established in Djibouti.” (AFP, 12 May)

“We call on the Iranians to do the right thing here and deliver their humanitarian aid in accordance with UN protocols which is through the distribution hub,” Warren said.

“If the Iranians are planning some sort of stunt in the region, they know as well as we do that it would be unhelpful and in fact could potentially threaten the ceasefire that has been so painstakingly brought about,” Warren said.

UPDATE: IRIN Rear Adm. Hossein Azad told reporters that Iran's "34th Fleet" is in international waters off Yemen and has the "responsibility to protect the Iranian humanitarian aid ship."  In April, Iran deployed Vosper MK5-class frigate Alborz (72) and its replenishment vessel Bandar Abbas (421) to the Gulf of Aden. Adm. Azad's reference to the 34th Fleet was to this deployed naval group.

File photo: Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) Iran Shahed. The vessel is heading toward Yemen. (FNA)

Saudi FM: Iran’s ‘Aggressive’ Moves on U.S.-GCC Summit Agenda

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Thursday’s summit between GGC leaders and President Obama will focus on Iran’s “aggressive” moves in the region, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

“We see Iranian support for terrorist organizations and facilitating the work of terrorist organizations, so the challenge will be in how to coordinate U.S.-Gulf efforts in order to collectively face these aggressive moves on the part of Iran,” al-Jubeir said on Monday. (SPA/Reuters, 12 May)

File photo: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir (Independent)

 

Saudi Arabia Bombs Sanaa Airport to Prevent Landing by Iranian Cargo Plane

Saudi-led coalition jet fighters today bombed runway at Sanaa airport in Yemen to prevent an Iranian cargo plane from landing there. The Saudis say they took the action after the pilot of the Iranian aircraft ignored their warning to turn back. Iran says the cargo plane was carrying humanitarian aid to Yemen, and had received permission from the AnsarAllah (Huthi) officials who control the airport. Saudis accuse Iran of attempting to transport arms to the Huthi insurgents.  Last week, Saudi fighter jets prevented another Iranian cargo plane from entering the Yemeni airspace. The Saudi-led coalition spokesman said they would repair the runway if the Huthis lifted their control of the airport.

Photo credit: Smoke billows from Sanaa international airport after its runway was hit by Saudi airstrikes. (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

IRGC Commander Accuse Saudis of ‘Killing a Nation’

IRGC Commander Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said in Tehran that Saudi Arabia was “shamelessly and disgracefully bombing and killing a nation” by carrying airstrikes in Yemen. (IRNA, 27 April)

Iran and Saudi Arabia support opposing sides in Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition of Sunni countries has conducted airstrikes against the Huthi (AnsarAllah) insurgents since late March to stop their advance into southern Yemen and the post city of Aden. They captured the capital Sanaa last September. IRGC’s Quds Force is major supporter of the Huthis, who are predominantly Shia.

In Syria and Iraq conflicts, Iran’s role is reversed where it supports the governments against the predominately Sunni insurgents.

File photo: IRGC Commander General Mohammad Ali Jafari (IRNA)