Qatar’s foreign ministry has recalled its ambassador to Tehran today following attacks on two Saudi diplomatic offices in Iran earlier this week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also handed a note of protest to Iran’s embassy in Qatar.

Iranian protesters broke into the Saudi embassy in Tehran on Saturday night, destroying furniture and starting a fire before police were able to control the situation.

They were angry over the execution of Saudi Shia leader Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was outspoken against the Gulf country’s ruling family and its treatment of Shia citizens.

Angry demonstrators also gathered outside the Saudi consulate in Mashhad on Saturday and Sunday; Iranian authorities eventually used water cannons to disperse them.

Political tensions

After the violent protests, Saudi Arabia immediately ended diplomatic ties with Iran, and Qatar joined several other GCC countries in formally condemning the attacks on Jan. 4.

Since then, rhetoric between the two sides has escalated.

This week, other Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have recalled their ambassadors, while Bahrain announced it was ending diplomatic relations with Iran.

Non-Gulf states such as Sudan and Djibouti have also cut ties with Iran.

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