Interior Minister talks tough on Iran

Manama

Echoing a hard a stance against Iran, Interior Minister Lt General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said the multifaceted Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain was totally unacceptable. “It does not conform to international norms that respect the values of good neighbourliness,” he remarked. 

The Minister was referring to Iran’s antagonistic political statements, the smuggling of explosives, weapons and ammunitions into the kingdom, the harbouring of fugitives and the use of Iranian military camps to train Bahrainis on terrorist acts. 

“Iran has been orchestrating and launching misleading propaganda campaigns against the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people to disseminate misinformation about the kingdom,” he said. “Despite this, Bahrain has been working to reinforce ties with Iran through a positive approach.” 

Shaikh Rashid called upon all the citizens and residents to condemn in unison the ominous Iranian interference regarding the kingdom’s security.

He pointed out that the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) acted as an integrated security system against such aggressive behaviour. “They need to reinforce their regular cooperation and develop international alliances that would assist them. There is a need at the outset to correct the foundations of the concept of ‘dual loyalty’ in the Gulf countries,” he commented.  

Noting that the double allegiance is utterly rejected by Bahrain, the Minister said: “Undoubtedly, it’s a legal violation. Iran is taking advantage of this concept through mixing religious speeches with politics in a move that echoes the Iranian agenda of politicising religious seminaries in Qom.”

 He also emphasised that there should be clear national condemnation and stance by scholars, national institutions and official and civic organisations, in addition to the representatives of the citizens and residents of Bahrain.