TEHRAN — On January 1, 2025, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador in Tehran to deliver a strong protest against Saudi Arabia's execution of six Iranian citizens convicted of drug trafficking.

In a statement released by the official IRNA news agency, Iranian Consular Affairs Director Kermani Shosti expressed deep outrage over the execution, which was carried out without prior notification to the Iranian embassy. He condemned the act as a significant violation of international law, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

“These individuals were convicted several years ago by Saudi courts for drug trafficking,” Shosti stated. “Throughout this period, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has made continuous efforts to provide consular services and seek clemency for them.”

Shosti emphasized that the execution undermines judicial cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and called for a necessary clarification regarding the matter.

In response to the incident, a legal and consular delegation from the Iranian Foreign Ministry is set to travel to Riyadh to follow up on the case.

The Saudi authorities announced the execution earlier that day, stating that the six Iranians had been found guilty of smuggling hashish into the kingdom. The Ministry of Interior specified that the executions took place in the Eastern Province but did not disclose the exact date of the executions.