Saudi Arabia has announced the expulsion of the Iranian embassy’s military attaché along with four other staff, declaring them persona non grata.
On Saturday, the Saudi foreign ministry made this announcement, attributing the decision to ongoing assaults they claim are orchestrated by Iran against Saudi territories.
Since the onset of the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran, Saudi Arabia has reportedly been targeted by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones. Most of these attacks have been intercepted, according to Saudi officials.
In a formal statement, the Saudi ministry warned that continued Iranian aggression could lead to further escalation, significantly impacting both current and future diplomatic relations.
The statement accused Iran of targeting Saudi Arabia’s “sovereignty, civilian infrastructure, citizens, economic assets, and diplomatic entities,” labeling these actions as violations of United Nations resolutions, international law, and “the principles of good neighborliness.”
Earlier this week, the Saudi foreign minister emphasized that the kingdom reserves the right to take military action against Iran, expressing that recent hostilities have irreparably damaged trust with Tehran.
Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties in 2023 as part of an effort to calm tensions after years of enmity that saw them back opposing political and military factions in the region.
The US-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent attacks on Gulf neighbours have disrupted oil and natural gas exports from the Middle East and forced production stoppages.
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