Iran banned the import of goods from Saudi Arabia, Iranian state TV reported Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
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After the execution at the weekend in Saudi Arabia of a leading Shia cleric, Iran has accused its Middle Eastern rival of a “trend of creating tension”.
His remarks came after Iran’s government spokesman downplayed Saudi Arabia and its little allies’ cutting or downgrading relations with Tehran following a spat between Riyadh and Tehran over the criminal beheading of a Shiite leader.
The Prime Minister has been accused of squandering almost £400 million in taxpayers’ aid to Yemen through its support for the Saudi-led military offensive in the country’s civil war.
“An official source at the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said that the ministry recalled the ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tuesday morning Jan 05, 2016, against the backdrop of the attacks carried out by crowds of demonstrators”, the agency reported.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – Saudi Arabia’s soccer federation has said its clubs will not play Asian Champions League matches in Iran amid rising diplomatic tension. Some 500,000 Iranians visit Saudi Arabia every year, many of whom are making the “lesser” pilgrimage or umrah to Mecca and Medina, which can be made at any time of the year.
News was not able to confirm Iran’s claims.
Powerful Iran-backed Shia militia called on the Iraqi prime minister, Haider al-Abadi – a Shia Muslim who has staked his credibility on efforts to reconcile with Sunnis – to shut a Saudi embassy that reopened only last month after decades of strained ties.
In Iran, protesters responded by attacking the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad. Riyadh cut diplomatic relations with Tehran, and Bahrain and Sudan followed suit.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday that the government of Saudi Arabia must stop measures that only serve to pour fuel on regional tensions in the Middle East.
“So far we have not seen any impact on the overall ISIL campaign”, said Brett McGurk, U.S. presidential envoy for the U.S.-led coalition fighting Daesh.
Late Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced it was severing relations with Iran because of the assaults.
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“We are encouraging a de-escalation”, said John Kirby.
