2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran

2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran
Part of Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
The Saudi embassy in Tehran after the attack
Date	2–3 January 2016
Location	Kashanak, Tehran, Iran (embassy) Sajjad Shahr, Mashhad, Iran (consulate) 35°48′05″N 51°28′32″E / 35.80139°N 51.47556°E / 35.80139; 51.47556 (Tehran) 36°19′07″N 59°32′56″E / 36.31861°N 59.54889°E / 36.31861; 59.54889 (Mashhad)
Causes	Protests against the government of Saudi Arabia and the House of Saud over the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
Methods	Demonstrations and rioting
Result	Embassy in Tehran arsoned and destroyed Rupture of Saudi Arabia-Iran relations Sudan, Bahrain, Djibouti, the Comoros and Somalia severed diplomatic ties with Iran Governments of Kuwait and Qatar recalling ambassadors from Iran UAE summons the Iranian ambassador in Abu Dhabi, recalls its ambassador from Tehran and downgrades ties with Iran from ambassadorial level to chargé d'affaires Jordan summons the Iranian ambassador in Amman Arab League emergency meeting held in Cairo upon Saudi Arabia's request. Saudi Arabia refuses to play in Iran during the 2016 AFC Champions League.
Parties to the civil conflict
Official positions Judicial Power: Anti-Saudi protestors "Enemy infiltrators" Ministry of Interior: "An organized group which has been active in Karaj and Tehran for more than 10 years" Alleged: Revolutionary Guards Basij Ansar-e Hezbollah Disciplinary Force Diplomatic Police Special Unit
Lead figures
Hassan Kordmihan Hamid Ostad (alleged) Gen. Hassan Arabsorkhi Safar-Ali Baratlou
Number
~200 Unknown
Casualties
Arrested	~100 protesters (as of 24 January 2016)

Embassy in Tehran arsoned and destroyed

Official positions
Judicial Power:

Ministry of Interior:
"An organized group which has been active in Karaj and Tehran for more than 10 years"

Alleged:

Disciplinary Force

The 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran was a mob action on 2 January 2016 by a crowd of protesters who stormed the embassy in Tehran and another Saudi diplomatic consulate in Mashhad, ransacking offices. The embassy building was set on fire with Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs. During the attacks, the police arrived and dispersed protesters from the embassy premises and extinguished the fire.

The attacks were later condemned by Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei, and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. On 24 January, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i announced that around 100 people involved in the attack are in custody by the authorities.

Before the attacks began and after the execution of Sheikh Nimr, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi Arabian chargé d'affaires hours after al-Nimr's execution. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said the execution of Sheikh Nimr "who had no means other than speech to pursue his political and religious objectives only shows the depth of imprudence and irresponsibility". He said that the Saudi government "supports terrorist movements and extremists, but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution".