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Execution row: Bahrain joins Saudi Arabia in severing ties with Iran

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have severed diplomatic ties with Iran over the storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shia cleric.

Sudan has expelled Iran's ambassador and the United Arab Emirates is cutting the number of Iranian diplomats it allows to be in the country,

Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Saudi Arabia that it will face "divine retribution" after officials executed Nimr al-Nimr.

Saudi executed al-Nimr alongside 46 others in relation to alleged 'terrorism' offences.

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Execution of cleric stokes regional tensions with Iran

The execution of a prominent Shia cleric by Saudi Arabia threatens to cause unrest throughout the region and stoke simmering tensions with Iran.

Video report by ITV News correspondent Peter Smith

The execution of a prominent Shia cleric by Saudi Arabia threatens to cause unrest throughout the region and stoke simmering tensions with Iran.

The death of Nimr al-Nimr, who was key figure in protests against the regime’s Sunni monarchy and government, has provoked international condemnation and brought demonstrations in Saudi, Iran and Bahrain.

Crispin Blunt, the chair of the foreign committee, told ITV News that it risked a "dangerous" sectarian-driven clash between Saudi Arabia and Shia protector Iran.

“The relationship is so sour and in such a dangerous place that anything such as the events today that ratchets up that tension is to be regretted and is dangerous,” he said.

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Execution row: Bahrain joins Saudi Arabia in severing ties with Iran

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