Saudi summons Iranian ambassador after 4 poisoned to death

Saudi foreign ministry yesterday summoned Iran’s ambassador to Riyadh after 4 of its citizens were poisoned to death in the Iranian city of Mashhad three days ago, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Ambassador Osama Naqli, chairman of the media department at the Saudi foreign ministry, expressed the Kingdom’s deep regret after Saudi citizens were poisoned to death in Mashhad, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Iranian medical sources said that four Saudi children died and 28 others have been in intensive care.

Naqli added that the Saudi charge d’affaires in Tehran was following up on the cases and ensuring support and medical care is being provided to the victims.

He said that the Saudi embassy immediately contacted Iran’s foreign ministry and the concerned authorities in Mashhad to conduct investigations to find the cause of incident.

Iranian Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi said the poisoning of Saudi citizens was most likely a “deliberate act”.

The Saudis were staying at a hotel in Mashhad and they were poisoned as a result of the use of pesticides in their hotel rooms, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.

“Considering some problems that Iran has with Saudi Arabia, immediate measures should be taken on the issue and the details should be shared with the public,” Hashemi said, adding that those involved should be prosecuted.