"The Government of Maldives has today decided to sever diplomatic relations with Iran. The Maldives believes that the policies that Iranian Government pursues in the Middle East, and in particular, in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf region, is detrimental to peace and security in the region, which, in many ways, is also linked to stability, peace and security of the Maldives," the Maldives Foreign Ministry made the announcement in a Tuesday statement, Sputnik reported.
Referring to the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Cooperation) summit held in Turkey last month, it further asserted, "The Maldives calls on Iran to show more commitment and tangible results in implementing the recommendations of the OIC," the ministry said.
The decision came after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran on January 3 following attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad by angry people protesting the kingdom's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Baqer Nimr al-Nimr.
The Maldives is heavily under the influence of the Saudi regime.
Prince Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's defense minister, earlier was on an official business visit at the invitation of Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who was elected in November after two years of political turmoil.
Riyadh has already promised the Maldives a five-year soft loan facility of $300m (181m), pledged last year when the country's previous president visited Riyadh.
It is just one example of the growing role of Saudi investment in the archipelago, a factor which may make the Maldives' government unwilling to ruffle the feathers of Saudi Arabia's rulers.
The Maldives currently has a yawning fiscal deficit averaging 14% of GDP over the past five years, according to the Asian Development Bank.
By Tasnim News Agency
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