In a sharp escalation of regional tensions, Saudi Arabia has ordered Iran’s military attaché and several embassy staff to leave the Kingdom within 24 hours. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the officials personae non gratae on Saturday, citing “repeated Iranian attacks” on Saudi territory. This diplomatic rupture mirrors a similar move by Qatar earlier this week and signals the collapse of the 2023 Beijing-brokered rapprochement between the two regional rivals.
The expulsion comes as the broader US-Israeli conflict with Iran increasingly spills into the Gulf. Despite Saudi authorities reporting that the vast majority of incoming threats have been intercepted, hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones have targeted the Kingdom since the war began on February 28. These attacks have moved beyond military targets to strike civilian hubs and critical energy facilities, including a recent drone strike on the Aramco-Exxon (SAMREF) refinery in Yanbu. The disruption at Yanbu is particularly critical, as the Red Sea port currently serves as Saudi Arabia’s primary export outlet following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomatic fallout follows a stern warning from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who stated earlier this week that trust in Tehran has been “shattered.” The Minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors possess “significant capacities” to defend their sovereignty should they choose to deploy them. The targeting of the US embassy in Riyadh by drones earlier this month further underscored the volatility of the situation, as Iran continues to strike at regional neighbors hosting American military assets.
As the 24-hour deadline for the diplomats’ departure looms, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that continued aggression would lead to “significant consequences” for the future of bilateral relations. With global energy markets already roiled by the closure of major shipping lanes and the targeting of refineries, this diplomatic break marks a transition from a shadow war to a direct, high-stakes confrontation that threatens to redraw the geopolitical map of the Middle East.
