CRI听力:Friction between Saudi Arabia and Iran Mightn't Escalate

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir says the attacks that Iranian protesters carried out on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran were a violation of international agreements.

Saudi ambassador to the UN Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said his country expected the UN Security Council to urge the Iranian government to provide "adequate protection" for its embassies and pledged his country's continued support for the peace efforts in Syria and Yemen.

"From our side it should have no effect because we will continue to work very hard towards supporting the peace efforts in Syria, in Yemen, wherever there might be a need for that. But the Iranians, even before the break of diplomatic relations, have not been very supportive, have not been very positive in these peace efforts."

Following Saudi Arabia's lead, a number of other countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Sudan, have also severed their diplomatic ties with Iran.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has "downgraded" its diplomatic relations, by reducing the number of diplomats it has stationed there.

In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari says his country is committed to protecting diplomatic missions and reiterated that no Saudi diplomats were harmed during the attacks.

He added Saudi Arabia's move to sever diplomatic ties between the two countries would impair regional stability.

"Saudi Arabia has been creating tensions and collisions in the region. It is trying to address the domestic crises with political propaganda and by spreading the pressure to places beyond the country."

The spokesman also said the Iranian diplomats in Saudi Arabia would be returning to their home country with dignity.

The international community has called on both sides to show restraint and avoid escalating events, which would have a negative impact on the world, especially as both countries play vitally important roles in oil production.

A Chinese expert on international affairs Hua Liming believes neither country is likely to resort to war.

"For one thing, Iran has a very important strategic position; for another, it is one of the major oil exporters. Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer in the world and a close ally of the United States. War between these two countries would only worsen the already complex situation in the Middle East. I believe the leaders of both countries would be sensible enough to avoid any large-scale conflicts."

Hua also says that the international community would make sure the recently brokered Iranian nuclear deal would be implemented despite the friction between these two countries.

The attacks on Saudi Arabian interests followed the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, a critic of the Sunni-dominated Saudi government.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.