text: Iran has forbidden its citizens from travelling to Saudia Arabia's holy sites over claims two teenaged boys were abused by Saudi airport officials while returning from a pilgrimage. Iranian officials made the decision following claims two of its citizens were abused while returning from an off-season pilgrimage at Jeddah airport in March. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between the two regional powers, particularly over Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen. Iranian protesters demonstrate against Saudi-led strikes in Yemen outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran . Muslims undertaking the umrah in Mecca - the pilgrimage which is not obligatory in Islam can be taken at any time during the year . Sunni Saudi Arabia has led the bombing campaign against Yemeni Shiite rebels, the Houthis, much to the anger of Iran. Iran, a Shiite nation, is backing the rebel group. Iran's Foreign Ministry has said the two boys, aged 14 and 15, were abused by airport security after they were separated from other passengers for body searches, Russia Today reported. Iraninan Culture Ministry spokesman Hossein Nooshabadi told the state TV that the pilgrimage would be suspended until the Saudi government 'applies a strong attitude' to the case. He also said 'capital punishment' should apply to the case, without offering further details. The alleged abuse, the details of which have not been publicly disclosed, sparked unauthorized protests at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Saturday. Public anger has grown over the incident, with President Hassan Rouhani ordering an investigation and Iran's Foreign Ministry summoning a Saudi diplomat for an explanation. However there has been confusion over what exactly happened. Yesterday, a representative of Iran's top leader on pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia downplayed the case, saying the pilgrims weren't abused. 'In the incident, no abuse has happened and the two policemen who attempted abuse were identified and detained by Saudi police,' Ali Ghaziasgar was quoted as saying. Iranians burn Israeli and US flags: The shiite nation opposes Saudi Arabia's alliance with the United States . The alleged abuse to the two teenagers comes amid increasing tensions between the two regional powers . Some 500,000 Iranians visit Saudi Arabia each year for the off-season umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, Islam's holiest sites. The umrah differs from the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage as it can be undertaken at any time of the year. Saudi officials haven't commented publicly on the dispute. Earlier this month, aviation authorities in the kingdom turned away an Iranian plane carrying pilgrims, saying it did not have permission to use the country's airspace, Saudi state media reported. On Monday hundreds of students staged a demonstration against the Saudi government outside its embassy in Tehran . On Monday, hundreds of students staged another demonstration in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, protesting the air strike campaign in Yemen. Relations between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia are hostile at the best of times. Iran has insisted in the past that its pilgrims be allowed to hold 'disavowal of infidels' ceremonies — rallies denouncing Israel and Saudi ally the United States - when on pilgrimages. Saudi Arabia bans such demonstrations at hajj and in 1987, one such rally led to clashes with Saudi security forces in which more than 400 pilgrims, mostly Iranians, were killed. Iran prevented pilgrims from attending hajj for three years after the killings. Relations between the two countries, Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia, are hostile at the best of times .
target: Iranians ban Saudi pilgrimage following claims of abuse on two teenagers .
  The boys, 14 and 15, say abuse occurred as they were searched at airport .
  International incident sparked protests outside Saudi embassy in Tehran .
  Ban comes amid escalating tensions over Saudi-led bombing in Yemen .