Iran not meddling in neighboring countries’ affairs

An Iranian lawmaker says the Bahraini regime’s allegations about Iran interfering in the kingdom’s affairs are part of efforts by Manama to cover up its crackdown on protesters.

The Islamic Republic of Iran never interferes in the domestic affairs of its neighbors, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Mansour Haqiqatpour said on Saturday, dismissing the allegations as “false and worthless.”

“Manama officials seek to cover up their suppression [of protests] through projection and retreating forward,” he added.

He noted that Bahrain needs to heed the legitimate demands of its people, warning that the regime’s Saudi-backed repression of protesters will fail to subdue the rage of protesters and further shake the pillars of the Al Khalifa Kingdom.

“Bahraini officials should meet the legitimate demands of their people instead of leveling false accusations against other countries and projecting about the crackdown on their people,” Haqiqatpour stated.

On Wednesday, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa and Minister for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab accused Iran of interfering in the internal affairs of the kingdom.

Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, calling for political reforms and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

Earlier this month, Amnesty International censured Manama for its “relentless repression” of anti-regime protesters, blaming Bahraini security forces for their repeated use of “excessive force to quash anti-government protests.”