Israel cannot tolerate Iran-Bahrain détente, wishes to turn Bahrain into anti-Iran military base: Analyst

A Lebanese political and security analyst says Israel cannot put up with a possible rapprochement between Iran and Bahrain as such a development will hamper the establishment of a military base by the occupying entity in the Persian Gulf Arab country.

Amin Hoteit made the remarks in an interview with the Press TV website after US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf predicted that the restoration of Tehran-Manama relations “will happen sometime soon.”

Hoteit said a possible thaw in Iran’s ties with Bahrain will be to the detriment of the Tel Aviv regime.

“Israel cannot tolerate the new situation, especially when peace is established … This is because Israel wants to turn Bahrain into an advanced military base to confront Iran,” he added.

“The restoration of friendly relations between Iran and Bahrain will definitely prevent the latter from giving its territory to Tel Aviv to set up a military and security base there.”

On January 4, 2016, Bahrain followed Saudi Arabia’s decision to severe diplomatic relations with Iran following the storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran by protesters over the kingdom’s execution of prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Baqir al-Nimr.

Meanwhile, a reconciliation agreement reached between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March has reduced regional tensions and raised hopes about restoration of ties between Iran and other Arab countries, including Bahrain.

Tehran has time and again expressed its readiness to improve relations will all regional countries under its “neighborliness” policy.

“The promotion of relations with regional countries, including Bahrain, is among the [Iranian] administration’s policies,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said on March 14.

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Also in the interview with Press TV, the Lebanese expert said a détente between Iran and Bahrain will have a positive effect on the Bahraini people’s relationship with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah, which has been shattered since the 2011 uprising against the ruling monarchy.

“In the near future, we will witness the resolution of the Bahrain crisis in a balanced way, something which will be indirectly welcomed by Iran,” he added.

Hoteit further emphasized that the cordial Tehran-Manama ties will benefit the US as it wants to protect its Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain from conflicts and threats.

He argued that after the Iran-Saudi peace deal, “the region moved towards new conciliatory approaches …, among them a change in the relations of Saudi Arabia and its allies with Iran and its allies.”

“The emergence of such an atmosphere is due to the failure of the US plots in the region. The opposite sides realized that hostility towards Iran and the axis of resistance will lead nowhere,” he asserted.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk