Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in retaliation to the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
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In Tehran, furious protesters ransacked the Saudi embassy on Saturday after setting it alight.
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Iranian authorities said early on January 3 that 44 demonstrators were arrested, but hard-liners have called for another demonstration at the embassy on January 3.
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Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani condemned Nimr’s execution but also denounced attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the consulate in second city Mashhad.
Al-Nimr died on Saturday alongside 46 terrorism convicts. He later said police had removed the protesters from the building and arrested some of them, adding that the situation had been “defused”. “The only thing he did was public criticism”.
“By defending the acts of terrorists … the Iranian regime is considered a partner in their crimes and is held completely responsible for its policies of incitement and escalation”.
The Guard promised “harsh revenge” against the Saudi royals for the execution, according to Reuters.
On Sunday, hundreds of Iranians staged a rally outside the Saudi Embassy’s headquarters in Tehran to protest the execution.
Analysts have speculated that the execution of the four Shi’ites was partly to demonstrate to Saudi Arabia’s majority Sunni Muslims that the government did not differentiate between political violence committed by members of the two sects. Saudi politicians, rulers and policymakers should have no doubt that there will be divine vengeance for this blood.
“We believe that diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential in working through differences and we will continue to urge leaders across the region to take affirmative steps to calm tensions”, Kirby said.
The IRGC released a strongly worded statement following Nimr’s execution, calling it a “Zionist conspiracy” and describing Saudi Arabia as a “hotbed for terrorists” with a regime that “belongs in the middle ages”.
“Awakening is not suppressible”, read the tweet on Khamenei’s English-language Twitter account, next to a photograph of Nimr.
Al-Nimr and three other Shiite dissidents were among 47 people executed by Saudi Arabia on Saturday after being convicted of terrorism charges.
The Saudi Press Agency confirmed the executions.
Yet critics say the ruling family has not done enough to tackle the sectarian intolerance, hatred of infidels and praise for the principles of violent jihad propagated by Saudi clerics.
Top officials in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria condemned the execution of Nimr, a force behind anti-government protests in Saudi Arabia in 2011 in the east of the country.
Websites carried pictures of demonstrators apparently clutching the Saudi flag, which had been pulled down.
Some hurled rocks at police, who fired tear gas and wielded batons in return, a senior police officer speaking on condition of anonymity told Agence France-Presse.
Concern mounted around the world, with the USA warning that Riyadh risked “exacerbating sectarian tensions at a time when they urgently need to be reduced”. We hope that any reactions would be confined to a peaceful framework…
“The execution of a figure like Sheikh al-Nimr, who had no means to follow his political and religious goals but through speaking out, merely shows the extent of irresponsibility and imprudence”.
Relatives of Nimr, reached by telephone, said authorities had informed them that the body had been buried “in a cemetery of Muslims” and would not be handed over to the family.
Following the attack, some 400 protesters gathered outside the embassy, despite being told not to protest there and instead gather at a square in central Tehran.
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All those executed were Saudis, except for an Egyptian and a Chadian.
