On January 2, 2016 (November 23, 2015 in the lunar calendar), Saudi Arabia announced that it would break diplomatic relations with Iran. Demonstrators threw incendiary materials at the Saudi Embassy in Iraq, causing a fire inside the embassy. According to the Associated Press, on Sunday local time, Saudi Arabia announced that it would cut diplomatic relations with Iran. On the evening of January 2, 2016, Iranian demonstrators stormed the Saudi Arabia embassy in Tehran because of the execution of a Shiite religious figure by Saudi Arabia. Cause: Saudi Arabia executes religious figures, Iranian people attack embassies and consulates and set fire to Saudi Arabia embassies and consulates in many places in Iran were attacked on the evening of the 2nd and suffered some losses. Media reports said that the incident was triggered by public dissatisfaction with Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shiite religious figure. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the people to remain calm. People demonstrated and broke into the museum and set fire to the Russian "Satellite" news agency reported that the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran, and the consulate in Mashhad were attacked. The former was set on fire and the Saudi flag in both places was torn down. Hussein Sajdinha, a senior Iranian police official, previously told a reporter from Iran's Tasnim News Agency that since the evening of the 2nd, some people have gathered outside the Saudi Embassy to demonstrate. Some of them have thrown stones or firebombs at the Embassy, causing a fire in part of the Embassy. Iran's semi-official Iranian Student News Agency also quoted Sajdinha as saying that some demonstrators then broke into the Saudi Embassy. Pictures posted on some social media websites on the morning of the 3rd seemed to show that Iranian people broke into the Saudi Embassy and began setting fire. In a photo on Twitter, demonstrators gathered outside the Saudi Embassy, and small-scale fires broke out in many places inside the Embassy. Another photo is believed to show furniture in the embassy room being destroyed. The Iranian government has called for restraint in media reports that these demonstrators in Iran are dissatisfied with Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shiite religious figure. The Saudi Ministry of the Interior announced on the 2nd that the Saudi judiciary executed 47 prisoners for terrorist crimes that day. These people violated Islamic rules, incited inter-sectarian hatred and violence, and undermined Saudi national security and stability. In response to the attack on the Saudi embassy and consulate, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jaber Ansari called on demonstrators on the 3rd to exercise restraint and respect Saudi diplomatic facilities. Sagidinia said police had expelled the demonstrators from the embassy and arrested some of them. According to him, the situation outside the embassy "has eased." Some pictures showed heavily armed Iranian riot police guarding the embassy and firefighters extinguishing fires inside the building. Iran expressed strong condemnation after Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia exchanged envoys to execute the religious figure. Ansari said on the 2nd that this "only shows how reckless and irresponsible (Saudi Arabia) is." The Iranian Speaker of Parliament said that the execution would plunge Saudi Arabia into a "whirlpool" and "Saudi Arabia will not be able to pass through this whirlpool." The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned Saudi envoys on the 2nd to protest the execution. In response, Saudi Arabia also summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest the Iranian authorities 'critical remarks. The Saudi News Agency quoted a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry as reporting that Iran's criticism of the Saudi judicial system is "blatant interference" in Saudi internal affairs. Saudi Arabia also requires the Iranian government to protect the safety of Saudi embassies, consulates and staff in Iran from possible hostile acts in accordance with relevant international conventions. Saudi Arabia executes a Shiite religious figure for allegedly committing terrorist crimes. According to a report by Voice of China's "News Night" on the 3rd, at the beginning of the new year, the Saudi Ministry of the Interior announced on state-owned television that the country's judicial authorities executed 47 prisoners for terrorist crimes across the country that day, the largest collective execution in the region since 1979. Among the 47 people were Nimir, a well-known Shiite religious figure. Nimir's execution triggered demonstrations in many places in the Middle East, with Iranian protesters burning the Saudi Embassy in Iran to protest. The Saudi Ministry of the Interior issued a statement on the same day saying that the 47 people violated Islamic rules, incited inter-sectarian hatred and violence, and undermined Saudi national security and stability. With the approval of the Saudi Supreme Court and King Salman, these criminals were in Riyadh, the capital that day, Mecca Province, Medina Province, Eastern Province and other places were sentenced. The Saudi Interior Ministry also said that most of the 47 prisoners executed were involved in attacks planned and launched by al-Qaeda between 2003 and 2006. Except for one Egyptian and one Chadian, the rest were Saudis. Most of the 47 people are Sunnis and 4 are Shiites, including Nimir, a well-known Shiite religious figure. Nimir is considered to be the leader of the younger generation of Shiite militants. He has repeatedly publicly accused Saudi Arabia and was arrested in July 2012. Saudi Arabia accused him of inciting riots. After the news of the execution was released, demonstrations broke out in many countries in the Middle East condemning Saudi Arabia's practices. Iranian demonstrators burned the Saudi Embassy in Iran to protest. According to videos uploaded to social media, furious demonstrators threw petrol bombs at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, causing the building to burst into flames. A large number of demonstrators even broke the windows and rushed into the embassy, vandalizing the furniture, furnishings and documents inside. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a post on Social networks, uploading a photo of Nimir and writing in English and Arabic: Awakening is unstoppable, pay tribute to Nimir. Khamenei's personal website even uploaded design pictures comparing the Saudi government with the extremist organization "Islamic State", implying that they are both executioners. After the incident, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ansari emphasized that the Iranian Foreign Ministry called on people not to gather near the Saudi Embassy in Iran and that Iran would safeguard the security of Saudi diplomatic missions in the Iranian capital Tehran and Mashhad. Tehran's police chief, General Sajdinha, said several demonstrators had been arrested for storming the embassy. At present, Saudi Arabia has summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest against the fierce local reaction in Iran. News of Saudi Arabia's execution of Nimir has also continued to ferment, not only triggering strong opposition from many countries, but also launching protests in Awamiya in eastern Saudi Arabia. Sunni and Shiite officials in Iraq unanimously criticized Saudi Arabia for making a big mistake and failing to abide by its promise to pardon Nimir and others, which will fuel sectarian violence in the region. In Awamiya, eastern Saudi Arabia, demonstrators held photos of Nimir and shouted slogans along the way, calling for the ruling Saudi royal family to step down. Police have stepped up security in several areas to prevent conflicts. Hundreds of people also took to the streets in Srinagar, India. They held high the flag of Islam and also shouted slogans of stepping down the Saudi royal family. In Pakistan, a group of Shiite Islamic scholars demonstrated on the streets of Karachi, the largest city, condemning Saudi Arabia's execution of Nimir and urging human rights organizations to intervene. In Manama, the capital of Bahrain, a large number of people also marched in protest and shouted anti-government slogans before finally dispersing peacefully. After Nimir was suddenly executed, his family expressed shock, but hoped that the outside world would respond peacefully to the incident. What is the identity and background of Nimir, a well-known Shiite religious figure? It is reported that Nimir has in the past strongly criticized the Sunni-dominated Bahrain government for severely suppressing Shiite-sponsored demonstrations. Between 2011 and 2012, he was regarded as a core figure in many anti-government demonstrations in Saudi Arabia. In July 2012, Nimir was shot while being arrested by the police, prompting thousands of people to take to the streets to demonstrate and protest. Later, it turned into a conflict, killing three people. In 2014, Nimir was sentenced to death. Why is Nimir regarded by Saudi Arabia as a "prisoner guilty of terrorist crimes"? Li Shaoxian, an expert on Middle East issues and dean of the China Institute of Arab Studies at Ningxia University, analyzed that this is related to Nimir's Shiite background. Li Shaoxian analyzed that Iran is a multi-political country and a Shiite country. The vast majority of Iran's nearly 80 million people are Shiites. Under such a situation, Iran itself is very wary of the Saudi royal family. Against this background, Nimir was actually regarded by the Saudi royal family as a very dangerous person, so the Saudi royal family wanted him to death. In response to Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 prisoners, including Nimir, a well-known Shiite religious figure, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Kirby issued a statement on the 2nd. The statement said that the U.S. government is worried that Saudi Arabia's actions will aggravate regional tensions, and the U.S. government calls on governments in the Middle East to double their efforts to ease regional tensions. Some analysts believe that the execution of Nimir may arouse dissatisfaction among local Shiites and have the opportunity to trigger terrorist attacks. So, what impact will this incident have on the regional situation? Li Shaoxian said: Most Middle Eastern countries are quite disgusted by Nimir's execution. Of course, the Shiites reacted very strongly, and other Sunni countries may not agree with Saudi Arabia's holding. The vast majority of countries believe that such a move by the King of Saudi Arabia is unnecessary and obviously exacerbates conflicts between sects. At least the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran will be quite affected. The situation of counter-terrorism in the Middle East is severe. At the end of the year and the beginning of the year, there were some good signs. Such a situation has just taken shape, but now such a thing is happening. The intensification of conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran is obviously not good news for continuing the Syria government settlement process. Next, relevant parties will step up mediation. Of course, how the situation develops remains to be observed in the past two days.