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| Bahrain, Sudan and UAE follow Saudis in diplomatic action against Iran | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bahrain and Sudan have quickly followed Saudi Arabia in severing diplomatic relations with Iran in the wake of the row over the execution of a leading Shia cleric by the Saudi authorities, which has provoked wide international condemnation. | |
| Bahrain, Saudi Arabia’s closest Gulf ally, said on Monday that Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave Manama. Its own diplomats would be leaving Tehran. | Bahrain, Saudi Arabia’s closest Gulf ally, said on Monday that Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave Manama. Its own diplomats would be leaving Tehran. |
| Shortly afterwards, Sudan announced that it was expelling the Iranian ambassador to Khartoum and that all ties had been severed. Sudan has been distancing itself gradually from Tehran in recent months. | |
| The UAE is also downgrading its diplomatic representation to Iran, replacing its ambassador with a chargé d’affaires, al-Hadath TV reported. The relatively modest step is likely to reflect the close trade ties between the two countries despite longstanding political tensions. | The UAE is also downgrading its diplomatic representation to Iran, replacing its ambassador with a chargé d’affaires, al-Hadath TV reported. The relatively modest step is likely to reflect the close trade ties between the two countries despite longstanding political tensions. |
| Bahrain has often blamed Iran for fomenting subversion and terrorism against a background of unrest among the country’s Shia majority. | Bahrain has often blamed Iran for fomenting subversion and terrorism against a background of unrest among the country’s Shia majority. |
| Related: Saudi Arabia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran after execution of cleric | Related: Saudi Arabia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran after execution of cleric |
| The Bahraini decision came after the Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were set ablaze by protesters. These have been widely condemned inside Iran as an own goal, diverting attention from the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others. | The Bahraini decision came after the Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were set ablaze by protesters. These have been widely condemned inside Iran as an own goal, diverting attention from the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others. |
| The Saudis sent troops into Bahrain in February 2011 to help crush the “Pearl Revolution” protests that erupted in the spirit of the Arab spring. Bahrain also joined Saudi Arabia in air attacks on Isis in Syria. | The Saudis sent troops into Bahrain in February 2011 to help crush the “Pearl Revolution” protests that erupted in the spirit of the Arab spring. Bahrain also joined Saudi Arabia in air attacks on Isis in Syria. |
| Attacks on foreign embassies have often taken place in Iran: these include the 2011 storming of the British embassy and the infamous US hostage crisis after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. | Attacks on foreign embassies have often taken place in Iran: these include the 2011 storming of the British embassy and the infamous US hostage crisis after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. |
| The recent incident has brought much embarrassment for the moderate administration of its president, Hassan Rouhani, and has undermined his diplomatic apparatus. Internal critics say it has shifted the attention away from the executions in Saudi Arabia. | The recent incident has brought much embarrassment for the moderate administration of its president, Hassan Rouhani, and has undermined his diplomatic apparatus. Internal critics say it has shifted the attention away from the executions in Saudi Arabia. |
| Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, said on Monday: “It seems that Saudi Arabia considers not only its interest, [but also] its survival in the continuation of tensions and conflicts and is trying to settle its domestic problems through blame games.” | Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, said on Monday: “It seems that Saudi Arabia considers not only its interest, [but also] its survival in the continuation of tensions and conflicts and is trying to settle its domestic problems through blame games.” |
| “The Islamic Republic of Iran pursues a clear and transparent policy with regard to the expansion of interaction and cooperation with all neighbours and world countries and enjoys excellent relations with many regional governments, especially Arabic governments,” he said. | “The Islamic Republic of Iran pursues a clear and transparent policy with regard to the expansion of interaction and cooperation with all neighbours and world countries and enjoys excellent relations with many regional governments, especially Arabic governments,” he said. |
| The attack is likely to have serious consequences for more than half a million Iranians who travel to Saudi Arabia every year for the hajj pilgrimage. Iranians need visas for such visits and some people save for several years in order to make the journey. It is still unknown whether upcoming visits will all be cancelled. | The attack is likely to have serious consequences for more than half a million Iranians who travel to Saudi Arabia every year for the hajj pilgrimage. Iranians need visas for such visits and some people save for several years in order to make the journey. It is still unknown whether upcoming visits will all be cancelled. |
| On Monday, Iran’s first vice-president, Eshagh Jahangiri, used strong language to denounce Saudi officials. “I advise the Saudi leaders to stop these subversive, hasty, illogical, emotional acts that are marked by mismanagement,” he was quoted as saying by the state-run Press TV. | On Monday, Iran’s first vice-president, Eshagh Jahangiri, used strong language to denounce Saudi officials. “I advise the Saudi leaders to stop these subversive, hasty, illogical, emotional acts that are marked by mismanagement,” he was quoted as saying by the state-run Press TV. |
| “Just look what chaos you have created in the region over the past couple of years,” he said. “What came of your move to create terrorist groups other than plunging the region into disarray and the plundering of the properties of the people of Syria and Iraq and elsewhere?” | “Just look what chaos you have created in the region over the past couple of years,” he said. “What came of your move to create terrorist groups other than plunging the region into disarray and the plundering of the properties of the people of Syria and Iraq and elsewhere?” |
| The head of Iran’s judicial system, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani, accused Saudis of wreaking havoc in the region. | The head of Iran’s judicial system, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani, accused Saudis of wreaking havoc in the region. |
| “The Muslim world today is witnessing numerous crimes [committed] by Saudis in different regions and in all [instances of] belligerency happening in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain, Saudis’ fingerprints and their support for terrorists are seen,” he said on Monday, according to Press TV. | “The Muslim world today is witnessing numerous crimes [committed] by Saudis in different regions and in all [instances of] belligerency happening in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain, Saudis’ fingerprints and their support for terrorists are seen,” he said on Monday, according to Press TV. |