Skip to main content

Amid worsening relations, Saudi Arabia executes three Iranians

Iran's Foreign Ministry is accused of ignoring regional issues after three Iranians inside Saudi Arabia were executed for drug trafficking.
A general view of Ha'er Prison in Saudi Arabia July 6, 2015. There is a rising number of security prisoners in Saudi Arabia, where the wars in Syria and Iraq have led to a surge in domestic jihadist activity. Until last year, the population of inmates at security prisons like Ha'er, just south of Riyadh, had been dropping as those detained during an al Qaeda uprising a decade ago were gradually released. But as anger has grown in the kingdom over what many Saudis see as oppression of their fellow Sunnis in
Read in 

Saudi Arabia’s charge d’affairs in Tehran was summoned after three Iranians were executed, reportedly for drug trafficking. The executions have resulted in a further deterioration in relations between the two countries involved in a number of proxy wars in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry announced the Nov. 8 executions of the three Iranians in the eastern city of Dammam, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The report said the three individuals, Nabi Baksh Jos, Mohammad Akram Baloch and Omid Bolideh, were arrested in the Persian Gulf waters attempting to smuggle a large amount of hashish into the country. The Saudi appellate court and the king of Saudi Arabia both upheld the ruling, according to the report.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.