UAE, Bahrain cut ties with Iran after attacks on Saudi missions

DUBAI: Bahrain announced on Monday it was cutting diplomatic ties with Iran, state news agency BNA reported, a day after its ally and neighbour Saudi Arabia also severed relations with Tehran.

"Bahrain decided to break off diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and calls upon all members of the mission to leave the kingdom within 48 hours," BNA said.



Similarly, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also announced on Monday it was downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran and limiting the number of Iranian diplomats in the country, state news agency WAM reported.

"The UAE has decided to reduce the level of diplomatic representation with the Islamic Republic of Iran to the level of a charge d'affaires and to reduce the number of Iranian diplomats in the country," WAM said.



Saudi Arabia cut ties with regional rival Iran on Sunday after Iranian protesters attacked its mission there, angered by the Sunni Muslim kingdom's decision to execute a leading Shia cleric. Iran is the main Shia power.

Sudan expels Iranian ambassador

Sudan also decided to expel the Iranian ambassador in protest at an attack on Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran, Saudi state television station Ekhbariya reported on Monday.

"The Sudanese government announces the cutting of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately," the foreign ministry said in a statement.