Saudi Arabia has declared five diplomats from Iran persona non grata, ordering them to leave the kingdom within 24 hours amid escalating tensions between the two nations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Saudi foreign ministry said those affected include Iran’s military attaché, assistant military attaché, and three other embassy officials.
The ministry said the move was prompted by continued attacks attributed to Iran on Saudi territory, warning that such actions risk further damaging bilateral relations.
According to the statement, the attacks represent “a flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions, the principles of good neighbourliness, and respect for state sovereignty”.
“They also violate the Beijing Agreement, UN Security Council Resolution No. 2817, and contradict Islamic brotherhood and the values and principles of the Islamic religion that the Iranian side constantly speaks of, confirming that these are merely words not reflected by actions,” the ministry added.
Saudi authorities warned that the situation could have “significant consequences” for both current and future relations between the two countries.
The kingdom said it has faced missile and drone attacks since the outbreak of the wider conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
With this development, Saudi Arabia becomes the second country to expel Iranian officials since the escalation of hostilities, following a similar move by Qatar last week.
The ongoing conflict, which intensified after coordinated strikes on Iran in late February, has disrupted oil and gas exports across the region and heightened security concerns in Gulf states hosting US military installations.
