Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Saudi Arabia cannot evade its "big mistake" of executing a prominent Shia cleric by cutting diplomatic ties with Iran.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) � Saudi Arabia cannot evade its "big mistake" of�executing a prominent Shia cleric by�cutting diplomatic ties with�Iran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said.

Amir-Abdollahian said, as�cited by�Iran�s Press TV broadcaster late Sunday, that Riyadh "cannot cover" up�its "big mistake" of�executing Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by�cutting ties with�Tehran.

Al-Nimr was among�47 people convicted on�terrorism charges whose execution Saudi Arabia announced on�Saturday, setting off�a diplomatic row and exacerbating sectarian strife.
"Iran is one of�the safest countries in�the region," said Amir-Abdollahian, who was the first Iranian official to�react to�Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir�s announcement that Riyadh would move to�sever diplomatic relations with�Tehran.


Saudi Arabia accused Iran of�not intervening in�the late Saturday attack on�a Saudi embassy and consulate in�the two most populous Iranian cities of�Tehran and Mashhad.

Demonstrators have set the embassy building on�fire and seized Saudi flags in�both missions before�authorities moved in�to arrest some of�the perpetrators.

Iranian diplomats were ordered to�leave the country within�48 hours, while 47 of�Saudi diplomatic mission staff have safely returned to�their homeland with�the help of�the United Arab Emirates.
By Sputnik