The Iranian authorities have decided to impose a product embargo against Saudi Arabia, the country's state television reports.
"Iran prohibits the imports of all products from Saudi Arabia after severing relations," Gazeta.ru cited the Press TV channel’s Twitter account as saying.
Some time ago, Iranian state-run media published information about the attack by Saudi Arabian aircraft on the Iranian Embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a. Several security personnel of the diplomatic mission were injured. Tehran accused Riyadh of conducting airstrikes.
Later, a representative of the coalition against the Huthis, led by Saudi Arabia, explained that the coalition had conducted heavy airstrikes against Houthi militants' missile launchers seeking to destroy the Huthis, because the militants use civilian buildings, including abandoned embassies.
Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Zhang Ming, who is on the visit to Saudi Arabia, will arrive in Iran to discuss an increasing tension between Tehran and Riyadh, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
"We have repeatedly expressed our concern about the current situation in the Middle East, China has always been committed to promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zhang Ming, will visit Iran. He will discuss the situation in the region with officials of Saudi Arabia and Iran," RIA Novosti cited him as saying.
The representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry clarified that Beijing relies on the improvement of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which will allow to maintain peace and stability in the region
The escalation of tension between Tehran and Riyadh started on 2 January, when after the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr a crowd of protesters smashed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s embassy and its Consulate General in Iran. The buildings of the diplomatic missions were severely damaged, but none of the Saudi diplomats were injured.
On January 4 Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced the severing of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran due to its continuing interference in the internal affairs of the kingdom and attacks on the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad.
A number of world leaders, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, expressed deep concern over the deterioration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which may seriously complicate the situation in the region.
