TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s deputy Morteza Sarmadi said on Thursday that execution of Saudi cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, whom he described as a “religious and freedom-seeking man”, has led to spread of tension in the Middle East region.

During a meeting with a Kuwaiti deputy foreign minister in Kuwait, Sarmadi said that execution of Sheikh Nimr was out of “desperation”.

He also described terrorism and extremism as the main problems in the region and said that Iran is the forerunner in countering these threats. However, he added, some countries use terrorism and extremism instrumentally to serve their own interests.

Sheik al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric, was executed on January 2. His execution caused an outcry in the world.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said he was “deeply dismayed” about the executions of 47 people, including Sheikh Nimr. A German Foreign Ministry official said, “The execution of Nimr al-Nimr strengthens our existing concerns about increasing tensions and deepening rifts in the region.” Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, also said, “I utterly condemn Saudi Arabia for the execution of 47 people including the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.” 




NA/P