WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Iran and Saudi Arabia should take steps to stop escalating tensions in the wake of the attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and cutting off diplomatic and commercial ties, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a briefing on Monday.
"We do continue to be concerned about the need for both, the Iranians and the Saudis, to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East," Earnest stated. "We are urging all sides to show some restraint and to not further inflame tensions that are on."
Also Easnetst stated that US Secretary of State John Kerry has been in touch with Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Zarif to address the country’s ongoing tensions with Saudi Arabia.
“Secretary Kerry has been in touch with his Iranian counterpart,” Earnest stated. “I would anticipate that Secretary Kerry will be in touch with his Saudi counterpart [Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir] at some point soon as well.”
On Saturday, demonstrators in Iran protesting the execution by Riyadh of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad. Following the incident, Saudi Arabia announced it cut diplomatic ties and air links with Iran.
