Iran has reacted to Saturday’s execution of Shi’ite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities over a 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests in the Sunni-majority Kingdom.
Al-Nimr was one of 47 individuals ordered to be executed in connection with the protests across Saudi Arabia, 45 of who are Saudi nationals and the other two from Chad and Egypt.
However in a swift reaction, the Shi’ite-majority Iran has said Saudi Arabia will pay a “high price” for the execution of the cleric.
According to Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaber Ansari, who was quoted by official IRNA news agency: “The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution… the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies.”