Senior Iranian lawmaker rejects 'foolish' Saudi claim about arresting 3 Iranians

Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi

A senior Iranian lawmaker has dismissed Saudi Arabia’s media reports about the detention of three Iranian nationals accused of acting against the kingdom's security.

The Saudi media ploy about the detention of Iranians is aimed at concealing internal rifts among the sitting Saudi rulers, particularly after the promotion of Mohammed bin Salman to the position of crown prince, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi told ISNA on Sunday.

Boroujerdi made the remarks in reaction to Saudi media claims on Sunday about the detention of three Iranians on charges of acting against Saudi security three days prior to a foiled terror plot targeting the Grand Mosque in the holy Saudi city of Mecca.

He said the Saudi King’s move to appoint his son as the new crown prince had raised tensions in the country, emphasizing that Saudi media made such anti-Iran claims to divert public attention from the divisions in the Saudi family.

On Friday, the Saudi Interior Ministry said it had “foiled the terrorist plan that targeted the security of the Grand Mosque, pilgrims and worshipers.”

In a statement read on the state television, the ministry said the bomber had exchanged fire with Saudi security forces and then set off his explosives when he was surrounded at a building in the Mecca neighborhood of Ajyad al-Masafi near the Grand Mosque.

The building then collapsed, injuring six foreigners and five members of the security forces, it added.