The execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric and vocal critic of the Saudi government, on January 2, 2016, provoked immediate and intense reactions within Iran. As news of his execution spread, Iranian leaders and the public expressed outrage, viewing the act as an affront not only to al-Nimr but to Shia Muslims worldwide. The Iranian government quickly organized protests, which highlighted long-standing sectarian tensions between Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shia-majority Iran.

In response to these developments, Iran officially severed its diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2016. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the Saudi government's disregard for the sanctities of the Shia faith underlined their decision. This diplomatic breakdown not only underscored the fractious relationship between the two states but also further polarized sectarian divisions within the region.

The fallout from these events reverberated across the Middle East, where proxy conflicts and sectarian tensions were already deeply entrenched. Both nations began to publicly criticize each other, impacting the geopolitical dynamics of the region, especially with regard to conflicts in Yemen and Syria, where they had been supporting opposing factions. Iran's severance of ties marked a significant escalation in hostilities and set the stage for ongoing conflicts fueled by sectarian divides.