Saudi Arabia breaks diplomatic ties with Iran after attack on its embassy in Tehran

Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that it will be severing off diplomatic ties with Iran following an attack on its embassy on Saturday. Protesters in Iran attacked the Saudi embassy with fire bombs after the country executed a prominent Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a press conference that Iran’s diplomatic missions and other related entities were allowed 48 hours to leave the country. He said that Iran will not be allowed to threaten the security of Saudi Arabia.

The foreign minister added that the attack was an attempt by Iran to destabilize the region. "These ongoing aggressions against diplomatic missions are a violation of all agreements and international conventions," he said. According to him, the Iranian foreign ministry also did not respond to requests by Saudi diplomatic representatives for help, when the building was attacked.

The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia has also confirmed that the embassy in Iran has been evacuated and, the staff is on their way back home. Later reports suggested that the embassy staff already arrived Dubai. As many as 40 people have been arrested for setting the embassy building on fire and destroying its interiors.

The Shiite cleric was accused by the Saudi authorities of inciting violence in his followers and was beheaded for the offence. He was convicted of disobedience, sedition and bearing arms. But, according to human rights groups, the cleric was executed for opposing the Saudi regime. The Shia leader, reportedly, did not deny the political charges against him but said he never tried to incite violence or carried arms.

His execution led to demonstrations in a number of countries including Tehran in Iran, which resulted in the attack on the Saudi embassy.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry announced the execution of 47 people, including a convicted Al-Qaeda leader and the Shia religious leader, on terrorism charges, the Al Jazeera reported. Many of those who have been executed were connected with attacks in Saudi Arabia between 2003 and 2006, which were attributed to Al-Qaeda.