The execution of Nimr provoked protests among Shi’ites across the region and Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran, setting fires and causing damage, prompting Riyadh to cut ties and inflaming an already heated rivalry.
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Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran over the execution, and several countries, including Bahrain, Sudan and United Arab Emirates, have also downgraded relations with Iran.
Sudan on Monday cut its diplomatic relations with Iran and expelled the Iranian ambassador to protest Saturday’s attacks on Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic missions in Tehran and the Iranian city of Mashhad, according to a Sudanese official.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to hundreds of thousands of Iranians, partially downgraded its relations but the other Gulf Arab countries – Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – stayed above the fray.
Over and above, Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, announced Monday that Saudi Arabia will cease air traffic with Iran, placing a ban on its citizens from travelling there, reported Al Arabiya local news.
The ministry said the decision was taken “in the wake of the brutal attack on the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad”, which it said was “clear abuse of global law”.
“He stressed the importance of continued constructive engagement by both countries in the interest of the region and beyond”, a statement from the Secretary-General’s office said.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim powers, share the same vision over the conflict in Syria where they believe only the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad can bring an end to nearly five years of civil war.
The incident occurred in the hometown of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, a prominent Saudi Shia imam who was executed on Saturday by the Saudi authorities.
Secretary of State John Kerry spoke Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and on Monday with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Kirby said.
Bahrain took action one day after Saudi Arabia officially severed diplomatic ties with Iran.
Relations between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shia-ruled Iran have been strained for decades, with Riyadh frequently accusing Tehran of interfering in Arab affairs.
The move was immediately condemned by Iran, which has also been supporting Shiite fighters who are clashing with a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
“It was very hard to get everybody around the table”.
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The government of Iraq has responded to Nimr’s execution with statements warning against any attempt to fuel sectarian tensions in the region.
