Saudi Arabia Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Iran

Local Editor

Saudi Arabia has cut diplomatic ties with Iran over the storming of its embassy in Tehran on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir demanded that the Iranian diplomatic mission and related entities leave the country within 48 hours.

He said Riyadh would not allow the Islamic Republic to undermine the kingdom's security.

Jubeir claimed the Tehran attack was similar to what he called earlier Iranian assaults on foreign embassies there, accusing Iran of creating "terrorist cells' inside Saudi Arabia.

"The kingdom, in light of these realities, announces the cutting of diplomatic relations with Iran and requests the departure of delegates of diplomatic missions of the embassy and consulate and offices related to it within 48 hours. The ambassador has been summoned to notify them," the foreign minister said.

The Saudi diplomats who were evacuated from Tehran following Saturday night's attack have arrived in Dubai en route to Saudi Arabia.

The move comes after angry Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran on Saturday night during a rally in condemnation of Riyadh's execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Despite the Saudi decision to cut off diplomatic ties with Iran, Washington has urged diplomatic engagement and called for other countries in the region to more active participate in helping to reduce the tensions between the two countries.

"We're aware of reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ordered the closure of Iranian diplomatic missions in the Kingdom," an Obama administration official said, as quoted by Reuters. "We believe that diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential in working through differences and we will continue to urge leaders across the region to take affirmative steps to calm tensions."

Meanwhile, Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian responded that Saudi Arabia "cannot hide its mistake" of executing a religious figure by moving to cut off diplomatic ties with Iran.

Amir-Abdollahian added that none of the Saudi diplomats were harmed during the violent protests on Saturday, stressing that Iran is one of the safest countries for diplomats in the region.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team