Iran warns against politicising attacks on Islamic holy sites

Tehran (Web Desk/Agencies): Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday that any attack on Islamic holy sites, including Makkah, Madinah and Al-Aqsa Mosque, must be condemned, as should any threats directed at pilgrims or countries in the region.

However, Baghaei warned against blaming any particular side for the reported drone incident before the facts had been properly verified. “A mere claim of intercepting a drone en route to Makkah Mukarramah cannot constitute grounds for accusing a specific party,” he said, noting that Yemen’s Houthi-led administration had clearly rejected claims of involvement.

Baghaei also stressed that the protection of Islamic sacred places should remain separate from political disputes and should not be exploited to intensify tensions across the region. He urged authorities and the public to exercise caution before reaching conclusions, citing what he called previous “false flag” operations in the region.

Meanwhile, China is reportedly continuing to back diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing the conflict from expanding.

In a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Iran and the United States to show restraint, return to the Islamabad memorandum and pursue meaningful consultations.

According to media reports, Wang also made clear that China wanted to prevent the growing regional tensions from spreading into Yemen and the Red Sea.

The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb remain important flashpoints in the broader crisis, as any disruption to these strategic waterways could have a major impact on international energy supplies and global maritime trade.