Iran says Riyadh thrives on tension after relations cut

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday, responding to the storming of its embassy in Tehran in an escalating row between the two major oil producers over Riyadh’s execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

In a statement, the UAE said it would be downgrading its diplomacy to only focus on business relationships between the Gulf federation and Iran due to “Iran’s continued interference in the Gulf and Arab countries internal affairs”.

The ministry said the decision was taken “in the wake of the brutal attack on the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad”, which it said was “clear abuse of global law”.

Sheikh al-Nimr was one of 47 people who were executed after being convicted of terror-related offences.

Abdul Latif bin Rashid al-Zayani, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, also condemned the attacks against the Saudi embassy, saying that Iranian authorities bear full responsibility for the failing to protect the diplomatic mission.

Numerous men executed had been linked to attacks in Saudi Arabia between 2003 and 2006, blamed on al-Qaeda.

Nimr al-Nimr, the Shia leader, was accused of inciting violence and leading anti-government protests in the country’s east in 2011.

The executions illustrate Saudi Arabia’s new aggressiveness under King Salman.

Iran accuses Saudi Arabia of backing Islamist terrorism, while Riyadh says Tehran interferes in Arab issues.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Saudi Arabia has fueled tensions in the region by making strategic mistakes as well as taking hasty and imprudent approaches.

“On Sunday night the junior foreign office minister with responsibility for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, expressed “disappointment” with the executions, though he did not mention Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the Shia cleric, by name”.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said Nimr’s execution “risks exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced”.

The protesters took to the streets for the second consecutive day to condemn the Saudi government for killing the outspoken Shia cleric.

“This is an escalation that will create havoc in the region”, he said, referring to the latest developments.