Saudi Arabia has severed diplomatic ties with regional rival Iran, following attacks on the kingdom's embassy and consulate in Iran over the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

Riyadh announced on Sunday that it was cutting ties with Teheran, and it asked all Saudi diplomats to leave within 48 hours, local media reported.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said he had informed the UN Security Council of the attack on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran late on Saturday, adding that the Saudi diplomats had safely reached Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.