Uproar in Middle East after Saudi Arabia executes top Shiite cleric

Bahrain has become the next Islamic country to renounce ties with Iran, following Tehran’s spat with Riyadh and the attack on the Saudi diplomatic mission to Tehran. According to a state news agency, Bahrain has given Iranian diplomats 48 hours to pack up, following a similar Saudi move.

Russia is ready to act as intermediary in the growing dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a source in the Foreign Ministry in Moscow told the Russian media.

“We express our sincere regret with regard to the current escalation between Saudi Arabia and Iran,”the source said, as cited by RIA. They added that the two countries are very important players regionally and internationally, and that “it is a shame to see the two Islamic countries clash in such a way.”

In response to Saudi Arabia severing diplomatic ties with Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused Riyadh of using the attack on the Saudi embassy as a pretext to escalate diplomatic tensions, Reuters reports.

« Iran… is committed to provide diplomatic security based on international conventions. But Saudi Arabia, which thrives on tensions, has used this incident as an excuse to fuel the tensions, » Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari told reporters in televised remarks.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting foreign diplomatic missions, Press TV reports, as the Islamic Republic deals with the fallout from the attacks early on Sunday morning on the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran.

Saudi Arabia has cut diplomatic ties with Iran, state SPA news agency reports, citing the Saudi foreign minister.

“The kingdom, in light of these realities, announces the cutting of diplomatic relations with Iran and requests the departure of delegates of diplomatic missions of the embassy and consulate and offices related to it within 48 hours. The ambassador has been summoned to notify them,” the foreign minister said.

Earlier, angry Iranian protesters stormed and set ablaze the Saudi embassy in Tehran on Saturday night during a rally in condemnation of Riyadh’s execution of the Shia cleric.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has used his official website to release a cartoon drawing parallels between the executions by Saudi Arabia and Isis, and said there will a backlash that will punish Riyadh’s « political mistakes. »

“Sheikh Nimr will undoubtedly receive the grace of God and the hands of divine vengeance will surely snatch – by their necks – those cruel individuals who took his life and this is a source of comfort for us,” said the politician and cleric.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran have told their Austrian counterpart, Sebastian Kurz, that they are not interested in the “escalation” of tensions following the execution of 47 people by the government in Riyadh.

« Both foreign ministers gave the assurance that no one can have an interest in a further escalation, » a spokesman for Kurz said.

The French Foreign Ministry has said it condemns the executions of 47 people by Saudi Arabia and is calling on all leaders to avoid sectarian tensions.

« France reiterates its constant opposition to the death penalty, in all places and all circumstances, » the ministry said in a statement.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini had a “long conversation » with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif following protests near the Saudi embassy in Tehran, an EU statement said.

The statement said that Mogherini and Zarif agreed that “no effort should be spared by all parties to keep the situation under control and to avoid sectarian tensions to escalate.”