Bahrain condemns Khamenei’s claims

Manama

Bahrain has strongly condemned the statements of leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said that Iran will protect oppressed people in Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere in the region.“Yemen, Bahrain and Palestine are oppressed, and we protect oppressed people as much as we can,” Khamenei said during a meeting with Iranian officials and diplomats from Muslim states. During his speech, Khamenei also denounced Saudi Arabia for its role leading a coalition of Sunni-ruled Arab states against Yemen’s Huthi rebels, comparing it to the pagans who ruled the Arabian Peninsula before the advent of Islam in the seventh century. Slamming Ali Khameni, parliamentarian Jamal Bu Hassan said that, before interfering in the affairs of other neighbouring countries, Khamenei should take care of his own country which is struggling hard to overcome poverty. Stating that Ali Khameni does not have any logical opinion, Jamal Bu Hassan urged him to respect the neighbouring countries. “Let him stop meddling with the affairs of neighbouring countries and concentrate on the welfare of citizens of his own nation,” the parliamentarian said.Condemning the statements of Ali Khameni, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires to Bahrain, Mohammad Reza Babaei, yesterday morning.The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Abdullatif Abdullah stressed during the meeting the rejection of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, affirming that these statements are not only unacceptable but are also blatant interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain.The Undersecretary added that such statements disregard the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and international laws that emphasise respect for the sovereignty of all countries and the principles of independence.He also stressed the need to urgently convey this protest to the Iranians officials.