Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia on Thursday cut diplomatic ties with Iran and ordered all Iranian diplomats and embassy staff out of the country within 72 hours.

“This step has been taken after careful consideration and in response to the Republic of Iran’s continuous interference in Somalia’s internal affairs,” Somalia’s foreign ministry said in a statement. It did not mention the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, nor give specifics about the alleged interference.

The ministry accused Iran of trying to destabilize the Horn of Africa nation and said it has recalled its acting ambassador to Iran.

Somalia joins Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Bahrain in cutting ties to Iran. Other countries have downgraded their ties to Iran.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran on Sunday after crowds of protesters attacked two of its diplomatic posts in Iran. Those attacks came after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent opposition Shiite cleric over the weekend.

Iran is seen as the guardian of the Shiite Muslim faith