Iran dismisses Bahraini FM’s interference claims

A senior Iranian official has dismissed as untrue and baseless the Bahraini foreign minister’s remarks that ,quote, Tehran is interfering in regional countries’ affairs.

Tehran is not meddling, whatsoever, in the domestic affairs of regional countries, including Bahrain, said Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday.

Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa on Sunday accused Iran of meddling in the internal affairs of the Persian Gulf littoral countries and supporting terrorist groups in the region.

“Branding Bahraini people who seek their demands in a democratic manner as terrorists will not help resolve the issue,” Amir-Abdollahian added.

The Iranian official noted that Tehran has always supported a political solution to the ongoing crisis in Bahrain based on national dialogue between the government and other parties.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested so far in Bahrain crisis.

The group Physicians for Human Rights says doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or have disappeared because they have “evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces, and riot police” in the crackdown on anti-government protesters.