Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, has firmly rejected allegations that Iran carried out a drone attack on the United States embassy in Riyadh earlier this week.
Saudi authorities had claimed that Tehran targeted the diplomatic compound with drones, an accusation that Iran has strongly denied.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Iran of launching missile and drone strikes against its territory and has warned that the kingdom reserves the right to defend itself, including responding with retaliation if necessary.
Iran had earlier dismissed claims that it attacked the massive Ras Tanura Refinery, one of the largest oil facilities in the Middle East, after Riyadh alleged that the refinery was targeted twice with drones.
Reiterating Tehran’s position, Enayati said Iran was not involved in the incident that reportedly sparked a fire within the US embassy compound.
“We confirmed that Iran has no role in the attack on the US embassy in Riyadh,” the ambassador said, adding that if Iran’s military operations command in Tehran carried out any strike, it would openly acknowledge responsibility.
Tensions across the Middle East have intensified as Iran responds to joint strikes by the United States and Israel that reportedly killed its supreme leader. Tehran has since launched retaliatory attacks against Israeli targets and other locations across the region.
Reports indicate that at least 13 people have died across Gulf countries since Iran began its strikes over the weekend, including seven civilians.
Despite the escalating violence, Enayati insisted that Iran was not seeking to widen the conflict into a regional war.
“This is not a regional war and it is not our war. It was imposed on the region,” he said.
Before the latest escalation, Riyadh had supported diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between Tehran and Washington and maintained that its airspace and territory would not be used to launch attacks against Iran.
Enayati said Iran appreciates that stance from Saudi Arabia.
“We appreciate what we have repeatedly heard from Saudi Arabia — that it does not allow its airspace, waters, or territory to be used against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said. “We welcome and affirm this position.”
Iran and Saudi Arabia resumed diplomatic relations in March 2023 following a breakthrough agreement brokered by China after years of strained ties.
The two countries had cut relations in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad were attacked during protests triggered by Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.