UAE downgrades diplomatic status of Iranian diplomats

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced Monday it was downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran and limiting the number of Iranian diplomats in the country, state news agency WAM reported.

Close allies Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut ties with Iran after Iranian protesters attacked its mission there, angered by the Saudi Arabia's decision to execute a leading Shiite cleric.

"The UAE has decided to reduce the level of diplomatic representation with Iran to the level of a charge d'affaires and to reduce the number of Iranian diplomats in the country," WAM said.

UAE’s ambassador to Tehran Saif al-Zi’abi had been summoned following the decision.

UAE’s move comes the same day Bahrain formally severed ties with Iran and Sudan expelled Iran’s ambassador to Khartoum.

A day earlier, Saudi Arabia announced that it cut ties with Iran after two of its diplomatic posts were attacked in the capital Tehran and the northeastern city of Mashhad.

Source: MENA