Saudi Arabia breaks diplomatic relations with Iran

Saudi Arabia pulled its diplomats from Tehran and announced it would cease diplomatic relations with its neighbour after its embassy was attacked.

The announcement was made on Sunday by the country’s foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir.

Protesters broke into the Saudi Arabian embassy late on Saturday night, starting fires inside and – according to Saudi officials – made off with computers and documents.

The incident followed the execution earlier in the day in Saudi Arabia of four Shias on charges of terrorism, including a well-known Shia clergyman Nimr al-Nimr, alongside 43 others.

Al-Nimr was indicted on charges of sedition, disobedience and bearings arms.

Al-Jubeir said Iranian officials had ignored three calls for assistance from Riyahd after its embassy was stormed.

The news came at a very tense moment in the Middle East, with tensions increasingly apparent between the two countries and with diplomats from outside the region worried those might hamper the upcoming tals to broker a cease-fire in Syria.

Early on Sunday, Iran's president, Hassan Rouhani, ordered the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack, while at the same time condemining the execution of Nimr.

On the previous day Iran's Supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saudi Arabia would face "divine retribution" following the killing of al-Nimr.

Both France and the UK said they deplored the executions.

Foreign Officer Minister Tobias Ellwood said he was "deeply disturbed" by the rising sectarian tensions in the Middle East, reiterated the UK was firmly opposed to the death penalty and expressed his disappointment at the mass executions.