Saudi Arabia breaks off diplomatic ties with Iran

Following Iran’s angry abuse over the execution Saturday of the prominent Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the Saudi foreign minister announced Sunday that Riyadh had severed relations with Tehran. Riyadh asked Iran’s diplomatic mission and “related entities” to depart the kingdom within 48 hours. The minister said his government is determined not to allow Iran to undermine Saudi security. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the dead cleric was a martyr and warned the Saudis they would face “divine revenge.” Saudi Arabia evacuated its diplomats from Tehran, Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV reports after demonstrators stormed and set fire to its Tehran embassy Saturday.