Official statements from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or reputable news agencies

Saudi Arabia Executes Six Iranians in Dammam for Drug Trafficking Amid Record Executions

Jan 1, 2025, 04:36 PM

Saudi Arabia executed six Iranian nationals for drug trafficking in Dammam, located on the Gulf coast, as announced by the Saudi Ministry of Interior. The executions were carried out for smuggling hashish into the kingdom. Iran responded by summoning the Saudi ambassador to Tehran to express a strong protest against the executions, labeling them as a violation of international law. This incident comes after a year in which Saudi Arabia carried out a record number of 338 executions, with 117 of those for drug-related offenses. The executions mark a continuation of Saudi Arabia's intensified crackdown on drug trafficking following the end of a moratorium on the death penalty for such crimes two years ago.