Date 2–3 January 2016 | ||
 | ||
Causes Protests against the government of Saudi Arabia and the House of Saud over the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Methods Demonstrations and rioting Result Embassy in Tehran arsoned and destroyedRupture of Saudi Arabia-Iran relationsSudan, Bahrain, Djibouti, the Comoros and Somalia severed diplomatic ties with IranGovernments of Kuwait and Qatar recalling ambassadors from IranUAE summons the Iranian ambassador in Abu Dhabi, recalls its ambassador from Tehran and downgrades ties with Iran from ambassadorial level to chargé d'affairesJordan summons the Iranian ambassador in AmmanArab League emergency meeting held in Cairo upon Saudi Arabia's request.Saudi Arabia refuses to play in Iran during the 2016 AFC Champions League. Hassan KordmihanHamid Ostad (alleged) Gen. Hassan ArabsorkhiSafar-Ali Baratlou | ||
The 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran was a mob action on 2 January 2016 by a crowd of protesters who stormed the embassy in Tehran and another Saudi diplomatic consulate in Mashhad, ransacking offices. The embassy building was set on fire with Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs. During the attacks, the police arrived and dispersed protesters from the embassy premises and extinguished the fire.
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The attacks were later condemned by Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. On 24 January, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i announced that around 100 people involved in the attack are in custody by the authorities.
Background
Before the attacks began and after the execution of Sheikh Nimr, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi Arabian chargé d'affaires hours after al-Nimr's execution. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said the execution of Sheikh Nimr "who had no means other than speech to pursue his political and religious objectives only shows the depth of imprudence and irresponsibility". He said that the Saudi government "supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution".
The remarks were later condemned by Saudi Arabia as "hostile" and the ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh. The ministry expressed "the kingdom's astonishment and its utter rejection of these hostile statements, which it deemed a blatant intervention in the kingdom's affairs", according to a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency.
Incursion
About several thousand demonstrators gathered near the embassy on Saturday night to protest and strongly condemn against the execution of Sheikh Nimr. The rally began quietly, but some participants attempted stormed the building by climbing the embassy's fence, breaking down the door, throwing around papers on the roof and seizing the Saudi flag. The protesters chanted, "Death to the Al Saud [family]", the ruling family of Saudi Arabia among other slogans. It later turned violently after demonstrators began throwing petrol bombs and Molotov cocktails at the embassy and then broke into the compound. The police arrived and dispersed protesters from the embassy premises and extinguished the fire.
In Mashhad, Iran's second largest city, demonstrators have also set fire at the Saudi consulate and torn down the Saudi flag.
Iran
Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei condemned the attacks and known it as "a very bad and wrong incident". Also, he declared that: "like the British embassy attack before it, this was against the country (Iran) and Islam, and I didn't like it."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the attacks while at the same time he also condemned the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. He blamed the attacks on "extremist individuals". He has pledged to protect the security of foreign missions and prosecute those responsible for attacking Saudi diplomatic posts, in a series of messages posted on his Twitter account moments after the attack. On 6 January, President Rouhani has asked the Iranian judiciary to immediately prosecute the attackers invoked. He said by punishing the attackers and those who orchestrated this obvious offense, his government should put an end once and forever to such damage and insults to Iran's dignity and national security."
The Iranian authorities have express regret over the attacks and arrested at least 40 individuals in connection to the attack.
Five days later on January 7, 2016, Iran's foreign ministry made the claim that Saudi warplanes had "deliberately" targeted its embassy to Yemen in the city of Sana'a. Iran's report included claims that,"a number of the building's guards" had been injured as a result of the bombing. Despite this assertion San'aa residents and the Associated Press have reported that the embassy suffered no visible damage. Currently General Ahmad Asseri from the Saudi-led coalition is investigating Iran's allegations.
On 24 January, Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i announced on state TV that they arrested around 100 people involved in the attack. Some of them were later released.
Saudi Arabia
Following the attack, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced that they will break off diplomatic relations with Iran, recalling its diplomats from Tehran and declared Iranian diplomats in Riyadh personae non grata, ordering to leave the kingdom within 48 hours.
A day later (on 4 January), Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that they will end air traffic and trade links with Iran and also cutting off all commercial relations with Iran. In addition, the Saudi government has imposed a travel ban on its citizens from visiting Iran. Iranian pilgrims would still be welcome to visit Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, either for the annual Hajj or at other times of year on the Umrah pilgrimage. However, Saudi Arabia-Iran relations can be restored immediately step-by-step, unless the Iranian government acts "like a civilized county".