Saudi Clash With Iran, Worst Since 1980s, Risks Deeper Conflict
- Breakdown follows Saudi execution of prominent Shiite cleric
- Bahrain, U.A.E. blame Iran for interference in Arab world
A Historical Perspective on Saudi-Iran Tensions
This article is for subscribers only.
Saudi Arabia’s move to isolate Iran raises the specter of deepening conflicts in the volatile Middle East after the biggest meltdown in relations between the two regional powers in almost three decades.
The Saudi government and staunch ally Bahrain severed diplomatic ties, giving Iranian ambassadors 48 hours to leave after protesters set the Saudi embassy in Tehran on fire over the weekend following the execution of Saudi cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a critic of the kingdom’s treatment of its Shiite minority. The United Arab Emirates reduced its representation to the level of charge d’affaires.