“It is necessary to maintain contacts and conduct dialogue instead of breaking off relations. We regard this move  (by Bahrain) as unconstructive. Severing diplomatic relations adds no mutual understanding” the source told Tass on Monday. 

Bahrain on Monday announced its decision to sever diplomatic relations with Iran following a similar move by its ally, Saudi Arabia, and told the Iranian embassy staff to leave the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom within 48 hours.

The move by Manama came shortly after the Saudi government on Sunday announced that Riyadh was severing its diplomatic relations with Tehran following angry protests in Tehran at the execution of Sheikh Nimr by Riyadh.

Speaking on Iranian state television, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in Tehran’s first response that by cutting diplomatic ties, Riyadh could not cover up “its major mistake of executing Sheikh Nimr”.

Saudi Arabia’s execution of 47 prisoners, including Sheikh Nimr, on Saturday drew global condemnation.

The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The bodies were then hanged from gibbets in the most severe form of punishment available in the kingdom’s law.

Sheikh Nimr had been detained in July 2012 on charges of delivering anti-regime speeches and defending political prisoners.