Saudi Arabia Expels Iranian Military Attache, Embassy Staff Amid Rising Tensions

March 23, 2026 | 11:12 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Saudi Arabia has expelled the Iranian military attache and four embassy staff, giving them a 24-hour deadline to leave the kingdom. This decision was made amidst increasing regional tensions due to the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran.

According to Al Jazeera report, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Saturday, March 21, that they have designated the "military attache of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Kingdom, the assistant military attache and three members of the mission staff" as persona non grata.

Response to Iran's Attacks

This expulsion follows what the Saudi government referred to as repeated Iranian attacks on its territory. Since the conflict broke out on February 28, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries that host U.S. military assets.

Saudi authorities mentioned that hundreds of attacks have occurred, with the majority being successfully intercepted. However, some key facilities have still been affected. Energy facilities in the eastern region have been repeatedly targeted, and the capital city of Riyadh has also been affected. Earlier this month, two drones were reported to have struck the area near the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh.

The latest disruption occurred on Thursday when oil-loading activities at the Yanbu port in the Red Sea were disrupted. This incident followed a drone crash near the SAMREF refinery, a joint facility of Aramco and Exxon. The Yanbu port has become a major route for Saudi oil exports after Iran effectively disrupted tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Condemnation

As reported by Middle East Monitor, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Iran's attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, considering them as "a flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions, the principles of good neighborliness, and respect for state sovereignty."

The Saudi government also mentioned that Iran's actions violate the Beijing Agreement, UN Security Council Resolution No. 2817, "and contradict Islamic brotherhood and the values and principles of the Islamic religion that the Iranian side constantly speaks of, confirming that these are merely words not reflected by actions."

The Ministry also emphasized that these attacks will have a profound impact on the current and future bilateral relations. Earlier, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stated that Saudi Arabia's trust in Iran has been "shattered" and emphasized the right of Saudi Arabia to defend itself.

Saudi Arabia's move follows Qatar's decision to expel the Iranian military and security attaches in Doha. This decision was made after Iranian missile attacks caused major damage to the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility.

Prior to this, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran had thawed through an agreement mediated by Beijing three years ago. However, the recent series of attacks has worsened the relationship between the two countries and increased the risk of broader escalation in the region.

Read: Trump Gives Iran 48 Hours to Open Hormuz Strait or Face Attack

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