Iranian suspects in Saudi embassy attack appear in Tehran court

Dubai: More than 10 people accused of storming Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in January appeared in a Tehran court on Monday, Iranian news agencies reported, weeks after President Hassan Rouhani urged the judiciary to take action.
The suspects are accused of "disturbing the public order and damaging embassy buildings", according to state media. Around 10 other suspects were absent from the first hearing.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran after protesters stormed the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad following Riyadh's execution of a prominent Saudi cleric.
The Iranian government condemned the assault and Rouhani, keen to improve Tehran's long-strained relations with neighbours and the West, asked the judiciary to punish the protesters and prevent further attacks.
Iran's judiciary announced in April that more than 100 suspects had been arrested over the attack on the Saudi missions and 48 charged. All were released on bail.
At Monday's hearing, a 25-year-old defendant said he had learned of the protest action against the Saudi embassy from social media groups "said to be linked to the Revolutionary Guards", according to the ISNA news agency.
"I didn't know the protest did not have a permit... I am regretful as I broke the heart of the supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei)," ISNA quoted the unnamed defendant as saying.
Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, has said the attack was "very bad and wrong" and had "damaged the country.
A defendant at Monday's hearing testified that he had been on an errand to a pharmacy but was arrested by security forces when he stopped his car to watch as protesters set fire to the embassy building.
Some of the defendants said they had gathered in front of the embassy to protest but they had not thrown stones or entered the building.
One said he entered the embassy to help people who were caught in the fire.
Speaking at the judiciary's annual gathering in June, Rouhani urged the courts to take action.
"People want to know how the judiciary will deal with those who attacked the embassy against the law and Iran's national security," Rouhani said. "They are waiting to hear the verdicts for these rogue elements."
Since reaching a landmark agreement last year on curbing its nuclear programme, Rouhani has sought to repair Iran's international relations.
The second hearing will be held on Tuesday, state news agency IRNA said.