Kuwait Recalls Envoy from Iran Over Saudi Fallout

Iranian pilgrims would still be welcome to visit Islam’s holiest sites in Makkah and Medinah in western Saudi Arabia, either for the annual Hajj or at other times of year on the Umrah pilgrimage, Al Jubeir said.

He said his country would restore its relations with Iran when the latter stops from interfering in other countries internal affairs, including those of his country.

Pakistan, an ally of Saudi Arabia, said that disunity in the region could provide advantageous grounds to the dark forces of extremism and terrorism.

The escalation of tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran against the backdrop of the Saudi execution of a prominent Shia cleric could negatively rebound on the efforts for establishing a peace process in Syria, analysts here said. Kuwait has also recalled its ambassador to Shia-ruled Iran, while the United Arab Emirates has downgraded its diplomatic representation.

Sudan was the first to follow through, condemning Iran’s “barbaric attacks” after protesters burned the Saudi embassy, and cutting all diplomatic ties.

Some 3,000 people took to the streets of Tehran on Monday for a third day, chanting slogans against Saudi Arabia’s ruling royal family.

But it did not mention the event that set off the crisis Saudi Arabia’s execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a cleric and activist whose death sparked widespread protests among Shiites.

Iran condemned the killing again on Tuesday, with Rouhani accusing Riyadh of seeking to “cover its crime” by severing ties.

In his calls, which include conversations with the Saudi deputy crown prince and the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers in the last 24 hours, Kerry has stressed the importance of pushing forward on a peace deal for Syria, his spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “Yemen, which Saudi Arabia wants to compensate for”, he said, without elaborating.

While the general impression is that the executions were a Sunni revenge for similar executions in Iran – which is a top-ranking country when it comes to awarding capital punishment – some commentators pointed out that only four of those executed by Saudi Arabia were Shias.

Iraq’s foreign minister offered Wednesday to act as a mediator between its neighbors Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran, for its part, expressed “regret” after the attacks on Saudi posts.

Before the breakdown, Iran and Bahrain maintained limited diplomatic relations.