REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEY YORK -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Monday urged Iran and Saudi Arabia to avoid any actions that could further exacerbate the situation between the two countries.

According to UN Spokesperson's Office, Ban has made phone calls with the foreign ministers of the two countries, stressing the importance of continued constructive engagement by both countries in the interest of the region and beyond.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia cut off its diplomatic relations with Iran after angry protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran to protest against Saudi's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

The Secretary-General reiterated that the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was deplorable, but added that the announcement of a break in Saudi diplomatic relations with Tehran was deeply worrying, according to the readout of Ban's call with Abel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, foreign minister of Saudi Arabia.

Ban also said he is deeply dismayed over the execution by Saudi Arabia of 47 people, including the cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, said a statement released by his spokesperson on Saturday.

UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is traveling to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday and intends to visit Iran later this week, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

During his visits, the special envoy will assess the implications of the recent developments between Saudi Arabia and Iran on the momentum of the Vienna process for Syria, said Dujarric.

There are fears that escalation of tensions between the two countries could exert negative impact on the efforts for establishing a peace process in Syria. De Mistura has stressed the need to ensure that the crisis in Saudi-Iranian relations does not cause a chain of adverse consequences in the region.

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