Egypt has condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad, according to a statement on the Foreign Ministry's website, amid a growing crisis and diplomatic fallout between the kingdom and the Shi'ite republic.
Both attacks occurred following Saudi Arabia's execution of Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr, which has received wide condemnation from the Shi'ite community, most specifically Iran.
Following the attacks, Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic ties with Iran and demanded that all Iranian diplomats exit the country. Saudi Arabia's decision was matched by decisions to cut off relations with Iran by the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Egypt stresses "the need to respect the inviolability of the premises of diplomatic and consular missions and the safety of their personnel, guaranteed by the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations," said the Foreign Ministry statement published on Monday.
During a trip to Riyadh on Tuesday, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry denounced the attacks in Tehran as "unacceptable" and said Iran's actions are tantamount to "intervening in the kingdom's internal affairs", reported Al-Arabiya.
"Security of the kingdom is an integral part of Egypt's security and Egypt's security is an integral part of the kingdom's security," Al-Arabiya quoted Shoukry as saying.
The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran for influence in the Middle East has manifested itself in proxy wars and diplomatic squabbles, including the conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen, with the support of Egypt, to prevent the the Iran-supported Houthi militia from seizing power. Saudi Arabia has also supported Syria's rebels against Iran's ally Bashar al-Assad.
Egypt has received support from Saudi Arabia amid domestic political conflicts and growing economic woes, which has resulted in Egypt seeking financial support from its Gulf neighbors.
