Saudi Arabia expels five Iranian diplomats amid ongoing attacks

• Saudi Arabia expels five Iranian diplomats over repeated missile and drone attacks, giving them 24 hours to leave.

Saudi Arabia has ordered five Iranian diplomatic staff to leave the kingdom within 24 hours after declaring them persona non grata, citing repeated missile and drone attacks from Tehran targeting Saudi territory.

The expelled officials include Iran’s military attaché, his assistant, and three additional embassy staff members, the Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday. The ministry warned that continued Iranian aggression could have “significant consequences” for bilateral relations, signaling a potential deterioration in the fragile ties re-established between the two countries in 2023.

The decision comes after Saudi authorities intercepted a ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh on Sunday, while two others landed in uninhabited areas. Drones launched at the Eastern Province were also shot down. Some attacks have targeted sensitive areas in the capital, including the vicinity of foreign diplomatic missions, such as the US Embassy, which sustained minor damage in one incident.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has previously sharply criticized Iran’s regional behavior, accusing Tehran of deliberately targeting neighboring countries. “The kingdom will not succumb to pressure,” Prince Faisal said, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to respond militarily if necessary. He dismissed Iranian claims linking the attacks to the presence of US military bases in the region as “unconvincing,” calling the strikes premeditated.

“The little trust that existed before has completely been shattered,” the minister added. “If Iran doesn’t stop immediately, there will be almost nothing that can re-establish that trust.”

The expulsions follow similar measures by other Gulf states. Last week, Qatar expelled Iranian military and security attachés along with their staff after attacks damaged the Ras Laffan gas plant. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates closed its embassy in Tehran and withdrew staff due to missile and drone strikes on its territory.

Since the start of the US-'Israeli' war on Iran on February 28, Saudi Arabia has intercepted hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones, which have disrupted oil and natural gas exports and forced temporary production stoppages.

The diplomatic expulsions mark a sharp escalation in tensions between Iran and Gulf states, raising concerns over a broader regional confrontation as the conflict continues to unfold.