Saudi Arabia orders Iranian military attache, four embassy staff to leave

Published 22 Mar, 2026 06:04pm 1 min read
Clouds move over the Riyadh skyline on November 17, 2013. Reuters file
Clouds move over the Riyadh skyline on November 17, 2013. Reuters file

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 U.S.-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 U.S.-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.

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