Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari had accused Saudi Arabia of a “deliberate action” in “violation of all global conventions that protect diplomatic missions”.
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Saudi’s embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were attacked by Iranian protesters after the kingdom executed prominent Shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr and 46 others for terrorism offences on Saturday.
Later, a representative of the coalition against the Huthis, led by Saudi Arabia, explained that the coalition had conducted heavy airstrikes against Houthi militants’ missile launchers seeking to destroy the Huthis, because the militants use civilian buildings, including abandoned embassies.
Saudi Arabia’s Sunni monarchy intervened in the war in March, aiming to defeat Shi’ite-led Yemeni rebels, known as the Houthis, which the Saudis view as a shadow force for Iran.
An Associated Press reporter in Yemen’s capital says he sees no damage at the Iranian Embassy after the Islamic Republic said it was hit in an overnight Saudi-led strike.
Saudi Arabia retaliated Sunday by severing relations with Iran, prompting several allied nations to follow suit.
They also support opposing sides in Syria, where Tehran has provided military assistance to its close ally President Bashar al-Assad against rebel groups, some backed by Saudi Arabia.
Two Saudi clubs are already scheduled to play in Iran and a playoff round could create two more matches there.
Meanwhile Thursday, Iran banned the import of goods from Saudi Arabia over the tensions, according to a report by Iranian state television. The government claimed that Iran is “increasing, flagrant and unsafe meddling” inside Gulf and Arab states.
Saudi Arabia said Thursday it will investigate Tehran’s allegations of an Saudi air bombing on Iran’s embassy in Yemen, Al Arabiya news reported.
Supporters of Shiah cleric Moqtada al-Sadr protest against the execution of Shiah Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, during a demonstration in Najaf, Iraq January 4, 2016. The Somali Foreign Ministry said it recalled its acting ambassador to Tehran and ordered Iranian diplomats to leave Somalia within 72 hours over “Iran’s continuous interference in Somalia’s internal affairs”.
While embassies are often a focus of protests worldwide, Iran still celebrates the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran every year and refers to it as the Second Revolution.
In eastern Saudi Arabia, where al-Nimr agitated for greater political rights for Shiites in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, three days of mourning over his death were to end Wednesday night.
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Besides import ban, the Iranian cabinet also reaffirmed a ban on pilgrims travelling to Mecca for Umrah haj.
