The crisis over the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, which at its root was caused by an international rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, may turn out to become a domestic political issue with the upcoming February 2016 parliamentary elections in Iran. The attacks on the embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad over the execution of Shiite activist Nimr al-Nimr not only resulted in Riyadh cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran, but have created challenges for President Hassan Rouhani, who campaigned on reducing tensions with foreign countries.

The immunity that rogue elements have previously enjoyed when disrupting speeches by moderates and Reformists and even attacking embassies is being challenged by a president who has unfulfilled 2013 election campaign promises. This is perhaps one reason why the Rouhani administration has condemned the attackers, gone after the perpetrators and held the officials in charge of security responsible.

On Jan. 9, Hossein Ali Amiri, spokesman for Iran’s Interior Ministry, went on Iranian television and condemned the attacks on the Saudi Embassy. Amiri said that after the execution of Nimr, such an attack was “predictable and the police forces and the intelligence organizations should have planned in such a manner for this not to happen.”

Amiri said the Interior Ministry, upon Rouhani’s orders, has created a special work group to investigate the attack. Amiri said that 60 individuals have been arrested and that their cases will be sent to the judiciary.