Oddly, it did not blame Saudi Arabia, hinting it is trying to calm relations, which had fallen to a low point in recent months over the Saudi execution of several Iranians for drug offenses and the Saudi support for the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hossain-Amir Abdollahian, who handles the Arab world and Africa, said Monday he held Turkey, Qatar and the United States responsible for the kidnapings because those states are the main supporters of the Syrian rebels. They are the main supporters—along with Saudi Arabia.
Abdollahian said, “It is worth mentioning that the US is openly supporting the armed groups with ammunition.” It may be supplying ammunition clandestinely, but it is not openly doing so. And US officials say they are not supplying the rebels with any lethal material, in part because they do not entirely trust the rebels and are concerned that many are ill-disciplined and downright murderous.
Abdollahian said, “We hold the Turkish government responsible for giving shelter to these armed groups…. We also hold the Qatari government accountable.”
Qatar and Saudi Arabia are understood to be supplying lethal material to the rebels through Turkey.
