Saudi Arabia cuts ties with Iran after embassy in Tehran attacked

Flames rise from Saudi Arabia's embassy during a demonstration in Tehran, Jan 2, 2016. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran early on Sunday morning as Shi'ite Muslim Iran reacted with fury to Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shiite cleric. [Photo/Agencies]

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister announced on Saturday to cut diplomatic ties with Iran and asked all Iranian diplomats to leave within 48 hours, local media reported.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said he had informed the UN Security Council of the attack on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran late Saturday, adding that those Saudi diplomats had reached Dubai, the UAE, safely.

He accused the Iranian authorities of not taking any measure to prevent the attacks against the embassy in Tehran and the consulate in the Iranian city of Mashhad.

On late Saturday, angry Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi diplomat mission against the Saudi execution of 47 individuals over terrorism charges, including a Saudi Shiite cleric, Namir Al Namir, a member of Saudi Shiite community.

The attacks were a violation to the international agreements, the minister said, also referring to the Iranians' previous attacks on US and British embassies.

He also accused Iran of providing protection for al-Qaida through weapon trafficking.