Saudi Arabia informed Iran's military attache, his assistant and three members of the embassy staff that they must leave the kingdom within 24 hours after being declared persona non grata, the Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday, citing what it described as continued Iranian attacks on Saudi territory.
Saudi Arabia has come under attack by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the start of US-Israeli war on Iran, the vast majority of which have been intercepted, authorities said.
The ministry said in a statement that continued Iranian attacks would lead to further escalation and have "significant consequences" for current and future relations.
On Wednesday, the Saudi foreign minister said the kingdom reserved the right to act militarily against Iran and any trust with Tehran had been shattered following recent attacks.
Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties in 2023 as part of an effort to calm tensions after years of enmity that saw them back opposing political and military factions in the region.
The US-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran's subsequent attacks on Gulf neighbours have disrupted oil and natural gas exports from the Middle East and forced production stoppages.
The US naval blockade of Iran is just an example of 'polite' behaviour during the ongoing ceasefire and US forces are ready to strike Iran's power plants and energy industry if ordered, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Thursday.
Speakers of the legislative councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council have stressed the importance of adopting a unified Gulf position and working toward resolutions at the Inter-Parliamentary Union condemning recent Iranian attacks on GCC states.
Optimism grew on Thursday that the Iran war may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator having made a breakthrough on "sticky issues", a source said, although Iran warned the fate of its nuclear programme had not been resolved.
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