Meanwhile, Ambassador to Iran Dr. Nassir Al-Bireik, in an article in an Iranian newspaper published yesterday, commented that Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to dispatch aid to victims of the recent earthquake, and would be the last to leave the devastated city of Bam. In addition to hundreds of tons of foodstuff and medical supplies, a 40-bed field hospital was set up. Saudi Arabia and Iran, he said, are linked with deep-rooted cultural and historical relations.