Saudis Cut Ties With Iran

<p>A top Saudi official announced Sunday his country had cut ties with Iran over the torching of its embassy in Tehran by protesters angry at the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.</p>

Sunday, January 3rd 2016, 7:12 pm

By: News On 6

A top Saudi official announced Sunday his country had cut ties with Iran over the torching of its embassy in Tehran by protesters angry at the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

At a news conference, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Iran's diplomats and all related personnel had been given 48 hours to leave the kingdom, according to Reuters.

Al-Jubeir said his country's official position is that the Iranians are trying to undermine Saudi Arabia's security.

The tensions began in earnest after Saudi Arabia announced the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday along with 46 others, including three other Shiite dissidents and a number of al Qaeda militants. It was largest mass execution carried out by the kingdom in three and a half decades.

Al-Nimr was a central figure in protests by Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority until his arrest in 2012, and his execution was questioned around the world.

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