Bahraini MPs in the US

A four-member delegation of Bahraini parliamentarians visited the US from January 8 to 16.

The delegates included Members of Parliament (MPs) Jamal Bu Hassan, Isa Al Kooheji, Abdulla Bin Huwail and Majeed Al Asfoor.

They had been officially invited by the US Department of State and the US Embassy with the aim to give them an opportunity to study the democratic institutions of the United States.

During their stay in the US, they met with high-ranking officials in the US State Departments, senators and congressmen. 

The delegation’s visit took place only a week after Iranian protestors attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran after Saudi Arabia executed the extremist Shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr with 46 other convicts.

Speaking to the DT News, MP Jamal Bu Hassan said they had fruitful meetings with American officials, especially the Assistant Secretary of the US State Department for the Middle East and North Africa, who assured them that the US would always stand by Bahrain against any Iranian aggression. The MPs had detailed discussions with the officials about the current regional situation, and the future of the US and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries relations.

According to MP Bu Hassan, US officials guaranteed and assured the delegates that if Iran ever posed any threat to the security and stability of Bahrain, they would support Bahrain to counter the Iranian interference.

The Bahraini delegation was much concerned about the US nuclear deal with Iran and they raised the issue in front of the US state officials, said the delegates.

The US side assured them and told them to be confident. The nuclear deal is being by the US and the European Union, the US informed the delegation.

The US departments also assured that they were scrutinising what Iran was doing in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

The US side informed that President Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry are always keen to cooperate with the GCC leaders to help keep the Gulf peaceful. The US side also agreed to cooperate with the Bahraini parliament in the future to help develop it as a democratic institution, added the MP.

Photo: MPs Isa Al Kooheji, Abdulla Bin Huwail, Jamal Bu Hassan, Majeed Al Asfoor in front of the White House