(CNN)—Iran's President lashed out at Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, calling its decision to sever ties with Tehran after uproar over a prominent Shiite cleric's execution a strange move in response to what he called justified criticism.
"Undoubtedly, such moves will never hide that great crime," President Hassan Rouhani said, according to Iran's state-run Press TV.
Saturday's execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others in a single day on terrorism charges has stirred a vigorous reaction in the Middle East and beyond. Many countries have taken sides, along sectarian lines -- with predominantly Shiite nations like Iran condemning it, while those with mostly Sunni Muslims standing behind Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, for instance, Kuwait, whose ruling family and most of its citizens are Sunni, recalled its ambassador to Tehran, citing "torching and sabotage activities" of Iranian demonstrators.
"Such action constitutes a flagrant breach of international conventions and violation of Iran's international commitment over security and safety of diplomatic missions on its lands," the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said.
Iranian protesters hold portraits of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr as they confront riot police during a demonstration against his execution by Saudi authorities on Sunday, January 3, outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Iran. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters that<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/03/middleeast/saudi-arabia-executes-dozens-terror/index.html" target="_blank"> Saudi Arabia is severing ties with Iran </a>after an attack on the embassy.
10 photos: Protest in Tehran after Saudis execute cleric
Smoke billows from the windows of the burning Saudi Embassy on January 2. A CNN producer in Tehran said some protesters made it inside the building, setting fire and ransacking some records.
A firefighter sprays water on the flames on January 2 in Tehran, Iran, a Shiite-majority nation, issued a statement deploring the execution and warning that Saudi Arabia would pay a heavy price for its policies.
Iranian protesters gather outside the Saudi Embassy in Tehranon January 2. Saudi Arabia said it executed "terrorists" and told Iran to stay out of its internal affairs.
Several protesters were arrested, police officers at the embassy told CNN.
There was some damage near the back of the embassy building, witnesses and a police officer said. None of the Saudi diplomatic staff was in the embassy at the time.
Iranian protesters hold portraits of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr as they confront riot police during a demonstration against his execution by Saudi authorities on Sunday, January 3, outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Iran. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters that<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/03/middleeast/saudi-arabia-executes-dozens-terror/index.html" target="_blank"> Saudi Arabia is severing ties with Iran </a>after an attack on the embassy.
Tehran's police chief Gen. Hossein Sajedinia, center right, tries to disperse protesters in front of Saudi Arabia's Embassy in Tehran on January 3.
Iranian demonstrators burn representations of the U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran on January 3.
Iranian security guards Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran while a group of demonstrators gathered to protest on January 3.
Protesters set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 2, during a demonstration against the execution of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities. Nimr was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Saudi Arabia's east, an oil-rich region where the Shiite minority of an estimated 2 million people complains of marginalization.
Smoke billows from the windows of the burning Saudi Embassy on January 2. A CNN producer in Tehran said some protesters made it inside the building, setting fire and ransacking some records.
A firefighter sprays water on the flames on January 2 in Tehran, Iran, a Shiite-majority nation, issued a statement deploring the execution and warning that Saudi Arabia would pay a heavy price for its policies.
Iranian protesters gather outside the Saudi Embassy in Tehranon January 2. Saudi Arabia said it executed "terrorists" and told Iran to stay out of its internal affairs.
Several protesters were arrested, police officers at the embassy told CNN.
There was some damage near the back of the embassy building, witnesses and a police officer said. None of the Saudi diplomatic staff was in the embassy at the time.
Iranian protesters hold portraits of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr as they confront riot police during a demonstration against his execution by Saudi authorities on Sunday, January 3, outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Iran. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters that<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/03/middleeast/saudi-arabia-executes-dozens-terror/index.html" target="_blank"> Saudi Arabia is severing ties with Iran </a>after an attack on the embassy.
Tehran's police chief Gen. Hossein Sajedinia, center right, tries to disperse protesters in front of Saudi Arabia's Embassy in Tehran on January 3.
Iranian demonstrators burn representations of the U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran on January 3.
Iranian security guards Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran while a group of demonstrators gathered to protest on January 3.
Protesters set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 2, during a demonstration against the execution of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities. Nimr was a driving force of the protests that broke out in 2011 in Saudi Arabia's east, an oil-rich region where the Shiite minority of an estimated 2 million people complains of marginalization.
In his remarks in Tehran with Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen, Rouhani defended those who have reacted angrily to the mass execution. This includes this weekend's storming and torching of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, which spurred Riyadh to cut diplomatic ties.
"It is only natural that a crime against Islamic and human rights will be met with reaction from public opinion," Rouhani said.
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