Saudi Arabia confirmed that they have severed ties with Iran after angry protesters attacked Saudi Embassy in Tehran following the execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Protesters armed with Molotov cocktails and stones attacked the Saudi Embassy on Sunday. According to New York Times, the protesters also broke furniture and windows, with one witness saying that they also set fire to the room before authorities arrived to stop the violent protest.

Following the attack, Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in a news conference that they decided to withdraw their envoy in Tehran due to security threats, officially ending their ties with Iran.

"The kingdom, in light of these realities, announces the cutting of diplomatic relations with Iran and requests the departure of delegates of diplomatic missions of the embassy and consulate and offices related to it within 48 hours," Jubeir said. "The ambassador has been summoned to notify them."

A source privy to the decision to cut ties with Iran said that they opted to end diplomatic relationship because they believe the Iranian government did not try to prevent the violent attacks.

"Enough is enough," the unnamed source told Reuters. "Again and again Tehran has thumbed their nose at the West. They continue to sponsor terrorism and launch ballistic missiles and no one is doing anything about it."

Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian fired back and said that Saudi Arabia's decision to sever ties with Iran is just a proof that they cannot cover the huge mistake they committed when they executed Sheikh Nimr.

Iranian officials protested the execution of Sheikh Nimr along with 46 others for allegedly engaging in terrorism-related activities. Officials said that they did not see enough reasons for Saudi Arabia to execute Nimr, saying that the Shiite cleric did nothing aside from criticizing Saudi monarchy.

The executions also drew protests from several countries in the Middle East, but Saudi Arabia insisted that they just wanted to deter violence in the country. Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi-Ansari publicly criticized the decision.

"It is clear that this barren and irresponsible policy will have consequences for those endorsing it, and the Saudi government will have to pay for pursuing this policy," he said.

The United States issued a statement about the ongoing tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, expressing hope that the two counties will eventually settle their differences peacefully.

"We believe that diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential in working through differences and we will continue to urge leaders across the region to take affirmative steps to calm tensions," U.S. State Department Spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement.