The offer by Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, made during a news conference in the Iranian capital, included the diplomat referring to the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr as a “crime”, a description that raised questions as to whether Saudi officials would even consider such an offer.
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The estrangement between Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite-majority Iran, regional rivals, threatens to undermine Kerry’s efforts to broker a peace agreement to end the almost five-year Syrian civil war.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran late on Sunday, hours after protesters stormed and set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in protest against the execution.
Great rivalry explained: Why don’t Iran and Saudi Arabia get along?
Turkey’s president has said the execution of a Shia cleric and 46 other people in Saudi Arabia was an “internal legal matter”, in his first comments on a row that threatens to further destabilise the region.
Over the past few months Saudi Arabia has seen its national currency plunge to a 16-year low on fears that its huge budget deficit driven up by falling oil prices may force Riyadh to float the battered riyal.
We have designed a simple game that helps you understand the major differences and similarities between Sunnis and Shiites.
At the time when smoke from the scorched Saudi Embassy in Tehran was still rising, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed his surprise at the Saudis for withdrawing their mission and closing the burned building! It has faced low-level turmoil since 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests by Shiites seeking more political rights.
Also on Wednesday, Qatar recalled its ambassador from Iran to protest the attacks on the Saudi diplomatic missions, according to a brief report carried by the official Qatar News Agency.
Human rights organisations have accused the Saudi-led coalition of indiscriminate bombing in Yemen.
Meanwhile, more protests were expected after Friday prayers, while mourners in Bahrain planned a candlelight vigil for the sheikh.
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Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a staunch critic of the Saudi government but always denied advocating violence.
