Masked men attack Saudi intelligence compound with firebombs

He also said that Russian Federation regrets execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, but considers an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran absolutely unacceptable.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends the Arab foreign minister’s meeting at the Arab League in Cairo, Egypt, January 10, 2016.

Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of interfering in its affairs and allowing the protesters to ransack its diplomatic missions.

Foreign ministers of the Arab League condemned Sunday Iran’s failure to prevent attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad.

Other Arab countries followed their Sunni ally in cutting or reducing diplomatic relations with Shiite-dominated Iran.

The Saudi-Yemeni and North African branches of Al Qaeda have threatened to avenge Saudi Arabia’s execution of more than 40 jihadists, calling the measure a “foolish act”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saudi Arabia has to choose between “supporting extremists and promoting sectarian hatred” or being a constructive player in promoting stability in the Middle East.

Zarif, who was a central figure in the negotiations that led to an agreement with the world powers over Iran’s nuclear agreement, accused the Saudis of seeking to undermine the pact.

Zarif said Iran’s “prudent restraint” had thus far prevented it from acting against Saudi Arabia despite these episodes.

“We have to unify the Arab and Islamic countries to confront Iran’s policies and persuade it to become a state which builds its relations with neighbouring countries on non- interference in their affairs”.

“But they (Riyadh) insisted on offering the blood of the good Mujahideen as a sacrifice for the Crusaders on their holiday, in the New Year”, the two groups said in the statement posted on social media”.

According to the Express Tribune, the statement coincided with the United Nations peace envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura’s visit to Tehran for talks on Syria.

Amid speculations on the matter, a government source was reported as saying that the military had committed deployment of troops in Saudi Arabia.

The Arab Ministerial Meeting was attended by 18 of the 21 foreign ministers.

As well as the Syria peace talks, the crisis also threatens a fragile UN-backed initiative to end the war in Yemen, where the Huthi rebels have seized control of large parts of the country including the capital Sanaa.