Diplomatic Row Between Iran, Saudi Arabia Deepens

Saudi Arabia is “much more challenged on the economic front, more isolated regionally and globally, and beset with succession issues (given the King’s controversial son)”, Bremmer said, referring to King Salman’s newly empowered 30-year-old son, Mohammad bin Salman.

Bahrain has accused Iran of being behind low-level insurgency that has been running since 2011 protests against its Sunni rulers by the majority Shiite population.

In October, Bahrain ordered the acting Iranian charge d’affaires to leave within 72 hours and recalled its own ambassador from Tehran after alleging Iran sponsored “subversion” and “terrorism” and funneled arms to militants. “Iran is a sisterly country, we share history with Iran, we share religion with Iran, we share geography, and we share a common future”.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced that it would cut diplomatic ties with Iran and ordered all Iranian diplomatic personnel to leave the country.

In a letter to the council, the Saudi ambassador called on the council to “take all appropriate measures to ensure the inviolability of diplomatic facilities and the protection of all Saudi diplomats in Iran“.

Saudi Arabia retaliated by cutting diplomatic ties with Iran. The hajj this year likely will begin in early September, though Muslims travel to the holy sites all year long.

Some 80 Saudis, including diplomats and their families, had already left Iran and arrived in Dubai today, diplomatic sources said. Egypt cut ties with Iran in 1989. The RIA Novosti news agency did not say whether Moscow had made the mediation proposal to either side.

At the State Department, spokesman John Kirby added that “there is no reason why the Syria peace process shouldn’t move forward as planned”.

France and Germany on Monday echoed a call by the U.S. for Saudi Arabia and Iran to talk to each other and reduce tensions, while China said it was concerned about the prospect of conflict in the Middle East intensifying as a result of the row.

On Sunday, the Sudanese government condemned the attacks and declared its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

Protests over al-Nimr’s execution took place across the Middle East and neighbouring countries, including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey and Bahrain, as well as the United Kingdom and the United States.

The White House spokesman also expressed concern about the Iranians’ failure to protect the Saudi diplomatic facility.

Mr Khoshroo said more than 40 protesters at the embassy have been arrested and handed over to judicial authorities and investigators are seeking other possible perpetrators.

Officials were preparing for a high-level US conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to stress the importance of continuing the Iraqi government’s outreach to Sunni militias, the officials said.