Iran dismisses Bahrain terror accusation
A senior Iranian diplomat has strongly condemned a recent bombing in Bahrain, flatly rejecting remarks by a Bahraini minister that the terrorist attack was linked to Iran.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday denounced the July 28 bomb explosion in Bahrain’s eastern island of Sitra, situated 12 kilometers (7 miles) southeast of the capital, Manama, which claimed the lives of two police officers.
A third officer was seriously injured and five other officers sustained light to moderate injuries.
Amir-Abdollahian dismissed Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa’s claim about a link between Tehran and the deadly blast as totally “untrue.” He said the accusation was completely deliberate as it was made when Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif was starting a diplomatic tour of regional countries.
“Unfortunately, the tribal behavior of some radical elements within the Bahraini government, and their deliberate insult to Muslims’ religious beliefs have caused a gaping rift between the government and the people [in Bahrain],” the Iranian deputy foreign minister pointed out.
“We advise the Bahraini foreign minister to think of playing a positive and constructive role regarding the collective security in the region, and [bringing about] national reconciliation between the Bahraini government and its people instead of stoking religious strife in Bahrain and the region,” Amir-Abdollahian said.
The senior Iranian official added that the Al Khalifa regime’s systematic human rights abuses and security crackdown will further complicate the situation in Bahrain, emphasizing that Tehran only supports a political solution to the crisis in the Arab monarchy.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham also denounced the terror attack in Bahrain.
Bahrain claimed on Saturday that it had foiled an arms and explosives smuggling plot by two Bahrainis with ties to Iran. Later, Manama also claimed that the explosives used in the Sitra bombing were similar to those allegedly seized after being smuggled from Iran.
Afkham also dismissed the claim as ‘Bahraini state media propaganda.’
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