Egypt has denied reports that it has recalled its ambassador from Tehran in the wake of the political rift between Iran and Saudi Arabia. “Such reports,” insisted foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, “are simply untrue.”
Abu Zeid made his comments on state television. “Nevertheless, Cairo coordinates with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to stand with it against any foreign intervention affecting the security of the Gulf region,” he added.
Iranian protesters set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Saturday in protest at the kingdom’s execution of prominent Shia scholar Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr. Following the attack, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, revealed that the government in Riyadh had decided to cut off diplomatic relations with Iran. He gave all members of the Iranian diplomatic mission 48 hours to leave the country.
Forty-seven people, including Shaikh Nimr, were executed by the Saudis on Saturday having been found guilty of “terrorism” and belonging to “extremist organisations”. The Saudi Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence against him in October. He had been charged with “igniting sectarian strife and disobedience”.