Iran's Judiciary Chief on Monday blasted Saudi Arabia and said the Kingdom’s rulers are serving the Americans and the “Zionists”.
"The illogical and unwise measures by the Saudi rulers have led to nothing but weakening the Muslim world, providing service to the world arrogance and strengthening the terrorist stream," Sadeq Amoli Larijani said, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency.
"Unfortunately, the Saudi rulers have turned into a laborer at the service of the Zionists and Americans," he charged.
The comments come amid tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia following the execution by Riyadh of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
In response, angry Iranians stormed Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran, smashing furniture and starting fires to the complex.
Saudi Arabia retaliated by cutting diplomatic ties with Iran and ordering all members of Iran’s diplomatic mission leave Saudi Arabia within 48 hours.
Iran accuses Saudi Arabia of deliberately trying to start a war with its regional rival. This was reflected in a New York Times op-ed by Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who accused Saudi Arabia of trying to “drag the entire region into confrontation”.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blasted Saudi Arabia over Nimr’s execution, saying, “The hand of God will take vengeance against Saudi leaders.”
The remarks on Tuesday are similar to ones made last week by Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, commander of the Basij militia of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who accused Britain, the United States and the “Zionists” of being behind Nimr’s execution.