Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jobeir announced boycott of all diplomatic ties with Iran and gave 48 hours notice for its diplomats to leave the country, on Sunday.
Al-Jobeir said “Iran has a long history of attacks on embassies and we blame the Iranian authorities for attacks on our embassy in Tehran.” He also accused Iran of smuggling weapons and explosives to the region and has been a safe haven for Al-Qaeda extremists since 2001.
Saudi Arabia executed Shi’a cleric Nimr Al-Nimr along with 47 other persons including three other Shi’as and dozens accused of having affiliated with Al-Qaeda. Iranian supreme leader Ali Khameni said Sunday that Saudi Arabia will face “divine revenge”.
Angry Iranian protesters broke into the Saudi embassy in Tehran early Sunday. Iranian local media reported that protesters set fire to the embassy before the police regained control of the building and arresting 40 persons.
