Saudi Arabia may take further measures against Iran after cutting ties with its regional rival this week, the Saudi foreign minister said on Saturday, in a major row over the kingdom’s execution of a Shia Muslim cleric.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir’s comments came in a press conference after an extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council, convened to discuss tensions with Iran after attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions there.
“We are looking at additional measures to be taken if it (Iran) continues with its current policies,” Jubeir said, without elaborating on what these measures could be, Reuters reported. The crisis between Tehran and Riyadh started when Saudi Arabia executed dissident Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Jan. 2, triggering outrage among Shias across the Middle East. In Iran, protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, prompting Riyadh to sever relations. Tehran cut all commercial ties with Riyadh and banned pilgrims from traveling to Mecca.
