Who is backing who in the stand-off between Iran and Saudi Arabia, mapped

A diplomatic row has broken out this week between Saudi Arabia and Iran following the former’s execution of a senior Shia Muslim cleric.

The Shia-led state of Iran reacted angrily to the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, alongside 46 others, on Saturday.

The Saudi embassy in Tehran was attacked by protesters on Sunday and the Sunni Kingdom cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

The countries back opposing sides in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday:

The Saudi government has taken a strange action and cut off its diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran to cover its crimes.

Undoubtedly, such actions can't cover up that big crime.

The Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Sunday at a news conference that Iran’s envoy had been asked to leave the kingdom within 48 hours:

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. The ambassador has been summoned to notify them.

Kuwait has since withdrawn their ambassador from Iran, as the gulf states protect their interests during heightened tensions.

With a rise of diplomatic tensions in an already volatile region, this map from Wednesday's i paper shows who is backing who in the Middle East: