Despite signs that Iran and Saudi Arabia would begin to take steps to address a myriad of regional differences and tone down sectarian tensions, this week officials have openly criticized one another over the Syrian civil war and the death sentence of a prominent Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia.
Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken cleric from the predominantly Shiite Eastern province who has led protests for more rights and an end to discrimination by the Sunni authorities, was convicted of sedition and sentenced to death, according to his brother.