Iran Press/ Iran news: “Last night, a number of rioters attacked Iran’s consulate in Najaf and after confronting with security forces and harming some of them, they entered the consulate and set the place on fire,” Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi told IRINN.
“All our diplomats are now sound and safe,” he said, adding that however “Heavy damages have been inflicted on the consulate building and it cannot be used anymore.”
“The purpose of those behind this incident is to undermine Iran and Iraq relations,” Masjedi stressed.
“They are foreign mercenaries who are encouraged by TV channels of regional countries; they seek nothing but to hamper brotherly relations between Iran and Iraq,” said the envoy, noting that “This is not what the Iraqi people and government want.”
News sources reported that 47 Iraqi security forces were wounded during the attack on the Iranian Consulate in Najaf.
Iranian Foreign Ministery Spokesperson Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, while condemning this aggressive action and reminding the responsibility and duties of the Iraqi government to support diplomatic places and diplomats, stated that Iran's severe protest in this regard has been formally notified to the Iraqi ambassador in Tehran.
On Wednesday night, a group of masked assailants attacked the consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Najaf and burned parts of it in protest to the economic disorder in Iraq.
The Iraqi Government through a statement declared that the attack on Iranian consulate was aimed at impairing Iraqi-Iranian relations.
It has been reported in recent weeks that the embassies of some regional countries contributed financially in a significant way to rioters. Earlier, these rioters had also attacked the consulates of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the cities of Basra and Karbala.
Some Iraqi provinces, including Najaf, have witnessed riots and aggression in recent weeks in protest to the inadequate poor public service, lack of job opportunities and bureaucratic corruption. However, these protests have turned into violence in recent days and led to death and injuries of dozens.
Evidence shows that demonstrations in Iraq were not spontaneous and that foreign countries were involved in its formation.
Read More:
Iraqi gov. must deal with aggressors to Iranian consulate responsibly: FM spox
Iraq slams attack on Iran's mission in Najaf
Iranian diplomats in Najaf are unhurt
Iraq imposes a curfew on Najaf over the unrest, attack on Iran mission
