TEHRAN, Jan. 5 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that Riyadh cannot hide the "crime" of killing a religious cleric by severing diplomatic ties with Tehran.

Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Iran on Sunday after angry Iranian protesters stormed its embassy in Tehran against Saudi's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The Saudi authorities should have not responded to the criticisms of al-Nimr by beheading him, Rouhani said in a meeting with visiting Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen.

"We hope that the European countries which have been sensitive to human rights issues could do their duties in this regard," Rouhani said.

The Iranian president, however, stressed that Iran is seeking good relations with its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia.

The best way to settle the dispute between the two countries is through political and diplomatic means, he said, adding that the critical situation in the region requires cooperation among the countries against terrorism.