"We are ready to form an investigative committee," says Iranian FM Araghchi
Tehran, March 15
Iran's Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper, said that his country is ready to form an investigative committee with regional countries for investigations into airstrikes, reported Iran's semi-official news agency Fars News.
"We are ready to form an investigation committee with regional countries regarding the targets that have been attacked. Our attacks only target US bases and interests in the region," Araghchi said.
Araghchi's statement comes after Saudi Arabia intercepted atleast 10 drones.
The Saudi Ministry of Defence confirmed that four drones were intercepted and destroyed within the Riyadh metropolitan area on Sunday, adding to a total of 10 drones neutralised across the capital and eastern regions today. This follows a separate success just an hour prior, where two other drones were downed in the east of the country.
Preceding these latest incidents, the ministry reported that its forces had already neutralised seven drones across the same regions. These operations highlight the persistent efforts of Saudi air defences to protect central and eastern territories, with officials also confirming the "interception and destruction of a drone" detected over the "Al-Jawf region" in the north.
The kingdom has faced a relentless series of aerial threats since the commencement of joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28. During this period, Saudi Arabia has been repeatedly targeted by waves of Iranian drones and missiles. According to Al Jazeera, the ongoing attacks have resulted in at least two deaths and 12 injuries.
Shortly after the latest interceptions, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a clarification. As reported by Al Jazeera, the IRGC distanced itself from the offensive, asserting in a formal statement that "this attack has no connection to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Saudi government should seek to discover the origin of the attacks."
The sheer volume of projectiles represents an "unusually high level of aerial threats for Saudi Arabia", according to Euro News, following a massive wave on Friday where nearly 50 drones were intercepted. Critical sites, including the US Embassy and oil infrastructure, remain under heightened risk as regional tensions intensify.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The article mentions the US-Israeli operations started this. While the drone attacks are concerning, we must ask why regional powers are constantly being drawn into conflicts. India has good relations with both Saudi and Iran; we should advocate for dialogue.
"Our attacks only target US bases" - this statement from the Iranian FM is very reckless. It openly admits to targeting a foreign power's assets. How can they then form an "investigative committee" with a straight face? The whole region needs to de-escalate, yaar.
My brother works in Riyadh. Every time we see such news, our family gets worried. Saudi air defence seems capable, but the frequency of attacks is alarming. Hope our MEA is in touch to ensure safety of Indian workers.
Respectfully, the reporting feels one-sided. It heavily focuses on Saudi interceptions (which is good), but gives less space to Iran's offer for a joint committee. Shouldn't that be explored? Constant conflict helps no one, especially not the common people suffering.
Geopolitics aside, nearly 50 drones intercepted in one day is a staggering number. The tech and coordination involved on both sides is massive. Meanwhile, we in India must focus on securing our own energy supplies and not get caught in this crossfire.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.