Bahrain called Thursday on Iran to stop issuing “irresponsible statements” and “hollow threats” and carrying out practices that could provoke tension in the region.
The Kingdom’s foreign ministry stressed in a statement that calm should prevail in order to respect all countries’ interests, sovereignty, and independence and maintain regional and international peace and security.
The Ministry’s statement was issued in response to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi’s remarks in which he described an international security conference hosted by Bahrain as “anti-Iranian” and “suspicious.”
The Iranian official said that such meetings “are held to undermine regional stability and pave the way for foreign intervention.”
“The security of regional countries is inseparable and it is not possible for some to be secure at the cost of others’ insecurity. It is expected that regional countries prevent foreigners’ escalatory interventions by exercising prudence and foresight,” he added.
Mousavi’s statement reflects Iran's approach, which is in complete contradiction with all the welfare of the regional countries and their peoples.
Commenting on Iranian officials’ statements, the foreign ministry said they “reflect Iran’s clear determination to block all efforts and initiatives aimed at enhancing security, stability, and freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf and the entire region.”
Last month, Bahrain said it would co-host a conference on “maritime and air navigation security, scheduled for October, adding that 65 countries will participate in it.
It didn’t specify the participating countries, yet “The Guardian” Newspaper said on Tuesday that Britain, France, the United State, and European countries will attend.
Late July, Manama also hosted a major international meeting during which military representatives for the US, Britain, Bahrain and other countries discussed the possibility of forming a military coalition to protect navigation in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
This decision followed attacks targeting oil tankers and the seizure of a British oil tanker amid aggravated tensions between Tehran and the US.
