Iran Says Saudi-Bahrain Union Plan Deepens Crisis
Iran warned on Tuesday that Riyadh's plans to form a union with Manama would deepen the crisis in Bahrain, a day after Saudi Arabia told Tehran to keep out of its relations with the tiny Gulf kingdom.
"Any kind of foreign intervention or non-normative plans without respecting people's vote will only deepen the already existing wounds," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in a statement carried by Iranian media.
"The solution to the crisis in Bahrain is in response to the legitimate demands of the people and is fulfilling them," he added, repeating Tehran's stance on the situation in the Gulf Arab state.
Iran "believes that the real power of the regional nations emanates from (governments) enjoying their peoples' backing," the spokesman added.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Monday that "Iran has nothing to do with what happens between the two countries, even if it develops into a unity."
The prince was speaking at the end of a Gulf Cooperation Council summit at which leaders discussed plans to turn the bloc into a union, starting with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Iranian MPs have condemned the planned union between the two Gulf countries.
"Bahraini and Saudi rulers must understand that this unwise decision will only strengthen the Bahraini people's resolve against the forces of occupation," they said in a letter, referring to Saudi military support for Manama.
In response, Prince Saud said that "The Iranian threat is not accepted.
"Iran has nothing to do with what happens between the two countries, even if it develops into a unity," he told reporters at the end of the summit in Riyadh.
Saudi-led Gulf forces rolled into Sunni-ruled Bahrain in March 2011 to boost the kingdom's security forces which a day later crushed month-old, Shiite-dominated protests.
Shiite-dominated Iran has repeatedly voiced support for the protests in Shiite-majority Bahrain and strongly condemned the deployment of Saudi-led forces.
The GCC was formed in 1981 as the Sunni-dominated monarchies of the Gulf aimed to bolster security after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran that was followed by an eight-year war between Baghdad and Tehran.
almost 12 years
In reaction to the Gulf Union plan Majles Speaker Ali Larijani declared: “If Bahrain is to be integrated into another country it must be Iran”; and one of the Supreme Leader’s most senior advisors repeated his call for Bahrain to become a 13th province of Iran.
If anyone doubts why Bahrain is looking for increased protection from its neighbours, this shows why many Bahrainis are so worried; particularly after months of sectarian incitement against Bahrain’s leaders by Iranian propaganda channels like Al-Alam TV and Press TV and blatant support for militants in Bahrain who have been launching daily attacks on the police with firebombs. The Gulf Union protects Bahraini sovereignty from pariah states like Iran.
Iran already rules Iraq through its proxies; is funding mass murder in Syria; & is working hard in Lebanon, Yemen, Afghanistan, Palestine and any other state where it can get a foothold to pursue its expansionist aims and get one over on the US
almost 12 years
If you hadnt been puppets for the US then Iran would never have been able to reach the strength it has. It is because of the arab khaleej rulers and how they betrayed Islam in order to be allied with the same believe at war with islam that Muslims are weak. Shame on all of your monarchys and leaders. Thanks to them, many muslims look up to shia iran and say "well at least they arent puppets like the arabs". Your leaders made a mockery of arabs and Islam and made non-muslims victorious over our ummah.
almost 12 years
same people at war with islam*
This from a country that violently put down a popular uprising against its unelected and unwanted mullahs, that tried and thankfully failed to help its murderous ally do the same it it's people in Syria. May they all hang.