Sudan cuts relations with Iran, expels Iranian ambassador

Saudi Arabia has broken off diplomatic relations with Iran and is cutting trade and air links. On Monday, Riyadh also announced that it would prevent its nationals from flying to Iran.

Saudi Arabia executed Nimr and three other Shi’ites on terrorism charges on Saturday, alongside dozens of Sunni jihadists.

Bahraini police today fired tear gas and birdshot at protesters demonstrating against the execution of a top Shi’ite cleric in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, witnesses said. The Saudi government, though, accused him of inciting violence. This was after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran and set it on fire.

Sudan, which has been looking to Saudi for aid since the secession of oil-rich South Sudan in 2011, on Monday announced an “immediate severing of ties” over the diplomatic mission attacks.

The island state, whose Sunni ruling family is closely allied to Saudi Arabia, has seen two days of protests by members of its Shiite majority since al-Nimr’s execution.

The UAE enjoys strong business ties with Iran, and the emirate of Dubai is home to a large Iranian community.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry called the Iranian ambassador to the Saudi capital Riyadh to protest Iran’s “aggressive” statements, which it called “blatant interference in the kingdom’s affairs”, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

In the latest sign of how things have changed, Iran’s former ally Sudan cut diplomatic ties with the country and expelled Tehran’s ambassador Monday, citing the attack on Saudi Arabia’s embassy.

The diplomatic ruction has sparked global concern, with the United Nations chief telling Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir that that break was “deeply worrying”.

Saudi Arabia’s allies are rallying against Iran, amid a diplomatic row over the execution of dozens of Saudi Shi’ites.

The U.S. official said Kerry’s message is to urge calm and warn against overreaction that some fear could lead to a sectarian war between Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Shiite-ruled Iran. The hajj this year likely will begin in early September, though Muslims travel to the holy sites all year long as well. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sent in troops to help quash the revolt, viewing it as an Iranian bid to expand its influence.

“We always make representations on the death penalty and the Foreign Office ministers made it very clear on this occasion”.

The US, UN and European Union have all condemned the decision to execute the firebrand cleric, which has reignited simmering tensions between the two regional superpowers.

The Iranian FM described Iran as “one of the most secure countries in the region, in which all diplomats can perform their functions safely and securely”. RIA Novosti did not say whether Moscow had made the mediation proposal to either side.

“We believe that diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential“, he said.