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Saudi Arabia reassigns ambassador to Iraq after controversy
Original Publication Date: October 15, 2016 4:48PM
Publication Updated: April 27, 2025 11:33AM
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia says it has reassigned its ambassador to Iraq, months after he claimed that Iranian-backed Shiite militias were plotting to assassinate him.
A royal decree issued early Sunday from King Salman announced Thamer al-Sabhan would be a minister of state for the Gulf region.
The decree and a brief story on the state-run Saudi Press Agency did not elaborate on the reason for his reassignment.
However, it comes after Iraq asked Saudi Arabia in August to replace al-Sabhan as it said the ambassador’s allegations were without evidence and harmed relations between the two countries.
Iranian-backed Shiite militias have fought against the Islamic State group in Iraq, raising worries in the Sunni-ruled kingdom about Iranian influence there.
Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in January.
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