Tehran: Iran has condemned any potential attack on Islamic holy sites and urged regional countries to avoid drawing conclusions from unverified claims, following Saudi Arabia’s allegation that a Houthi drone was intercepted south of Mecca.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday that the protection of Islamic holy sites, including Mecca, Medina and Al-Aqsa Mosque, must remain a priority. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“Any aggression against Islamic holy sites, particularly Mecca al-Mukarramah, Medina al-Munawwarah, and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as threats to their pilgrims and neighbours, is a condemned act,” Baghaei said in a statement posted on X.
However, he cautioned against holding a particular group responsible without concrete evidence.
“A mere claim of intercepting a drone en route to Mecca al-Mukarramah cannot constitute grounds for accusing a specific party,” he said, noting that Yemen’s Houthi-led authorities had denied responsibility.
Saudi Arabia says drone was intercepted
Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca before it entered the restricted airspace surrounding the holy city.
Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki described the incident as a hostile act and said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line”.
Saudi authorities later reported that debris from an intercepted drone fell in Taif province, killing one Yemeni resident and injuring a Saudi woman and a Pakistani man.
Houthis deny targeting Mecca
The Houthis have strongly rejected Saudi Arabia’s allegation that they attempted to target Mecca.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi called the allegation a “lie” and said the group would not target Islam’s holiest city. The group has maintained that its military operations are directed against Saudi military and other strategic targets rather than Islamic holy sites.
The competing claims have not independently established who launched the drone or what its intended target was.
Iran warns against escalating regional tensions
Baghaei urged regional actors not to use allegations involving Islamic holy sites to deepen political and sectarian divisions.
Iran, he said, opposed the politicisation of the security of Islamic sanctities and warned that such allegations could be used to fuel tensions between Muslim countries.
The Iranian spokesperson also referred to what Tehran describes as “false flag” operations in the region, suggesting that some unverified incidents could be used to influence public opinion. Those remarks represent the Iranian government’s position and have not been independently established.
Fighting intensifies in Yemen
The dispute comes amid a renewed escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has carried out strikes in Yemen, while the Houthis have claimed attacks against Saudi targets. Yemen’s internationally recognised government has also reported fighting with Houthi forces on several fronts, including Taiz, Marib, Lahj, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Al-Bayda and Al-Dhale.
The worsening conflict has also raised concerns over maritime security in the waters around Yemen.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of a tanker being pursued by a small boat about 75 nautical miles east of Aden. Authorities were investigating the incident and advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution.
The latest developments come as tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis continue to widen, with competing claims over military operations and the alleged drone incident near Mecca adding another sensitive dimension to the regional conflict.
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