Moments ago, the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, announced on a televised news conference that Saudi Arabia would be breaking off all ties to Iran and that Iranian diplomats have no more than 48 hours to leave the Gulf kingdom. This move comes less than 24 hours after angered Iranian protestors set the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran ablaze.
Furthermore, Adel al-Jubeir added that “Saudi Arabia would not allow Iran to undermine the kingdom’s security.” Additionally, the Saudi foreign minister mentioned that “Iran had revealed its true face represented in support for terrorism.” Tensions have been on the rise between the two states after Saudi Arabia executed top-Shia Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr along with 47 other men accused of ‘terrorism-related offenses’.
On the other hand, the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Saturday that “Saudi Arabia would face divine vengeance for the execution of Sheikh Nimr”. The heated rhetoric underscored the mounting tensions between the two powers, each of which considers itself the leader of the Islamic world and supports opposing sides in conflicts across the region.