Saudi Arabia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran after execution of cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr
The cutting of ties followed a long period of conflict between the opposed countries over al-Nimr’s treatment. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatoallah Ali Khameni, predicted “divine vengeance” would fall on Saudi Arabia after al-Nimr’s execution, and there were anti-Saudi protests as far afield as Pakistan over his death.
Following the execution, protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, ransacking and setting fire to the property before being pushed back by police.
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani attempted to calm the conflict with Saudi Arabia by calling for the perpetrators of the embassy attack to be identified and captured, but Saudi Arabia was not turned.