Iran summons Saudi envoy over espionage charges

Saudi Arabia says Iran is behind a ring of alleged spies arrested in the kingdom last week

28 March 2013, 12:11 pm
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Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is greeted by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah during his first official visit to Saudi Arabia, March 3, 2007 (AP)
Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is greeted by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah during his first official visit to Saudi Arabia, March 3, 2007 (AP)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran summoned a Saudi envoy on Wednesday to protest Saudi Arabia’s allegation that members of a spy ring arrested in the kingdom last week worked for Iranian intelligence.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency said in a report late Wednesday that Iran’s Foreign Ministry “strongly rejected” the claim during a meeting with the Saudi charge d’affaires in Tehran. The report said Iran is seeking an explanation from the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has said that material evidence and detainee confessions prove the members of the arrested group received money from Iran for information on vital locations in the kingdom. Iran has denied such payments.

The mainly Sunni kingdom and the predominantly Shiite Iran are regional rivals. They have a hostile relationship and frequently trade accusations.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press

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