Iran says Saudi Arabia looking for an excuse to fuel tensions

The United States has called for leaders in the Middle East, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, to reduce tensions in the region amid worldwide outrage over the Saudi regime’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

An Iranian official has denounced Saudi Arabia’s move to cut diplomatic relations with Iran and accused the Sunni kingdom of stoking tensions region-wide.

Iraqi students shout slogans during a protest held on the Baghdad campus of Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad on January 3, 2016 against the execution of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities.

The two countries have always been at odds, but Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday kicked off a new round of sparring between them that marks a risky shift in an already volatile region.

Saudi Arabia announced Saturday that officials had executed Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, along with 46 terrorists, Shiite dissidents and Al Qaeda militants.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned Nimr’s execution, saying “God will not forgive” the kingdom for putting him to death. During his reign, Saudi Arabia has led a coalition fighting Shiite rebels in Yemen and staunchly opposed regional Shiite bastion Iran, even as Tehran struck a nuclear deal with world powers.

“Both foreign ministers gave the assurance that no one can have an interest in a further escalation”, the spokesman said, adding that Kurz had spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and had called for de-escalation and dialogue between the two countries.

He added that Riyadh ordered Iran’s embassy staff to leave the country to cover up domestic problems, in comments broadcast on Iranian state TV.

Speaking on Iranian state television, Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in Tehran’s first response that by cutting diplomatic ties, Riyadh could not cover up “its major mistake of executing Sheikh Nimr”. Al-Nimr faces crucifixion for his role in the 2012 protests.

The firebombing of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran led to the drastic decision, al-Jubeir said. Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency quoted Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi announcing the arrests Sunday.

SEVERING TIES: In 1988, Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran, citing the 1987 hajj rioting and Iran’s attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf.

He accused the Iranian authorities of not taking any measures to prevent the attacks against the embassy in Tehran and the consulate in the city of Mashhad.

He was a constant critic of the Saudi and Bahraini royal families, and was popular amongst Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority.

“We will continue to urge leaders across the region to take affirmative steps to calm tensions”, Mr Kirby said.