Tensions rise as Saudi allies cut ties with Iran

Saudi Arabia announced its dissolution of diplomatic ties with Iran Sunday, requesting all Iranian diplomats depart the country within 48 hours.

Shiite cleric addresses a crowd during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabia Embassy to protest Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

The United Nations moved quickly today to shelter peace efforts in Syria and Yemen from the diplomatic storm unleashed by the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran. It said it would reduce the number of diplomats in Iran and would recall its ambassador “in the light of Iran’s continuous interference in the internal affairs of Gulf and Arab states, which has reached unprecedented levels”.

The Bahraini foreign ministry summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires Murtada Sanawbari and handed him an official note in line with its decision, said the statement carried by BNA. The protesters were enraged over the Sunni kingdom’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr over the weekend.

Saudi Arabia has regularly accused Tehran of sponsoring terror attacks on its soil and of supporting Shiite Huthi rebels fighting the Saudi-backed government in Yemen.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Iran was creating “terrorist cells” among the kingdom’s Shia minority.

Riyadh’s execution on Saturday of the cleric, Nimr al-Nimr have driven up tension across the region.

Another Saudi mission also was attacked in Mashhad, Iran.

Underscoring the worries, the United Nations pulled its chief envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, away from that conflict for a round of talks with Saudi and Iranian officials.

A man was killed and a child was moderately injured on Sunday evening when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a police patrol in Saudi Arabia’s eastern predominantly-Shia Qatif province.

Iran said Saudi Arabia made a “strategic mistake” that could only further divide the region and fuel militancy during crucial battles against the Islamic State and efforts to end Syria’s civil war.

“But it is clear that Washington would better balance between Saudi Arabia and Iran and not take full responsibility for Riyadh’s reckless escapades”, Parsi concluded.

Yesterday, Bahrain and Sudan cut all ties with Iran, following Riyadh’s example.

As Turkish ties with Riyadh have warmed, Ankara’s relations with Tehran have grown more tense in recent months, notably over Iran’s role in Syria – where the Islamic republic supports Assad’s regime – and over its burgeoning relations with Russian Federation.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said the 2011 document was a “general policy guide” but pointed out that Saudi Arabia is listed as a “country of concern” in a report published a year ago.