Despite over 40 arrests, no group in Iran has officially taken responsibility for the attack on Saudi Arabia’s embassy and consulate in Iran that resulted in Riyadh cutting commercial and diplomatic ties with Tehran. Iranian officials have unanimously condemned the attack on the embassy, while also condemning the execution of Shiite activist Nimr al-Nimr that prompted the protests in Tehran and Mashhad.

Some media outlets and Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, have vaguely referred to “rogue elements,” a term usually reserved for groups unofficially linked to a government body that typically operate outside the law.

An article in Reformist Arman Daily argued that the embassy attackers intended to create challenges for the administration's foreign policy goals of improving relations with foreign countries post-nuclear deal. Rouhani came into office promising better relations with the world. With sanctions set to be lifted in January, many foreign countries have been eager to improve ties with Iran and increase trade. The attack on an embassy sends a frightening message to these countries, perhaps what domestic opponents of the administration and the nuclear deal are hoping for.

In its coverage of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Reformist newspaper Ghanoon reported, “After a week of unnecessary conflict, the control of diplomacy has returned back to the hands of the diplomatic organizations of the country.” The article stated that while Nimr’s execution was condemned by millions of people across the world, “A group of extremists inside the country not only took an irregular and costly action, but in their own opinion wanted to decide the future of diplomacy for the country.”