Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has ordered the Iranian military attache and four other Iranian Embassy staffers to leave the country within 24 hours. This decision comes in response to recent attacks by Iran, which Saudi Arabia claims are a direct violation of international laws and norms.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement late Saturday condemning Iran's actions, particularly its attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The ministry labeled these acts as "a flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions, the principles of good neighborliness, and respect for state sovereignty."

The statement further criticized Iran's actions as contradictory to the values of the Islamic religion and international agreements such as the Beijing Agreement and UN Security Council Resolution No. 2817. It highlighted the gap between Iran's words and actions, emphasizing that the attacks have a "profound" impact on Saudi-Iranian relations, both currently and in the future.

Saudi Arabia's decision to expel the Iranian diplomats makes it the second nation to take such measures since the conflict began on February 28. Earlier this week, Qatar expelled Iran's military and security attaches following Iranian missile strikes that severely damaged the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility.

The region has seen escalating hostilities since the onset of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which began on February 28. Tehran has responded with a series of drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf countries that host US military installations.