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Saudi-Iranian crisis widens as Kuwait recalls envoy

A statement from the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said its ambassador to Tehran was being recalled because of the “torching and sabotage” of the Saudi facilities in Iran.

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Turkish Prime Minister on Tuesday condemned attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions by Iranian protestors in the wake of the execution of a leading Shia Muslim cleric by Riyadh.

In this Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 file photo, followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr burn an effigy of King Salman of Saudi Arabia as they hold posters of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr during a demonstration in Baghdad, Iraq.

The Security Council joined those calls, issuing a statement urging all sides to “take steps to reduce tensions in the region”.

The fight between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which began after the execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia, threatens US goals in the region.

In response, Saudi Arabia has cut diplomatic ties with Iran completely and expelled all Iranian diplomats from Riyadh, as well as halting all air traffic between the two countries as a response to “Iranian aggression”.

In Syria, Iran is supporting the government of President Bashar al-Assad against rebel groups, some backed by Saudi Arabia.

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“Because we are perpetuating their ongoing violations of human rights whether it is imprisoning bloggers, or other political activists, or raining down a war of aggression on the people of Yemen”, she added.

Activists of Rah e Haq Party burn an effigy to represent Iran and the United States during a protest in Peshawar in the support of Saudi Arabia.

It did not, however, expel Tehran’s ambassador or downgrade the level of diplomatic relationship with Iran.

Conflicts among the regional states will not serve the interests of any country, but only to embolden the terrorism and extremism, said the top Iranian diplomat.

Late on Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced it was severing relations with Iran because of the assaults, giving Iranian diplomatic personnel 48 hours to leave. In Bahrain, tensions between the Sunni government and the Shiite majority population grew to such an extent that the government used water cannons to control the crowds in the capital. However, Kuwait did not say it would sever its ties to Iran over the tensions.

He also expressed Kuwait’s support for Saudi Arabia in the measures it is taking to safeguard its security.

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The kingdom is also part of the US-led coalition bombing the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria.

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