Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Iran says top Israeli diplomat’s trip to Bahrain ‘stains’ its rulers

‘We condemn any scheme that bolsters Israel’s destructive presence in the region,’ said Iran

Mark Heinrich
Friday 01 October 2021 09:44 EDT
Comments
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Thursday
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Thursday (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Iran said on Friday that a visit by Israel’s foreign minister to Bahrain this week to mark the establishment of relations left a stain on the Gulf Arab state’s rulers that “will not be erased”.

Bahrain and Gulf neighbour United Arab Emirates normalised ties with Israel last year in a U.S.-brokered deal known as the Abraham Accords that built on common commercial interests and worries about Iran. Sudan and Morocco followed suit.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Thursday. Lapid toured Bahrain‘s headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which has faced off with Iranian vessels in recent years.

“We condemn any scheme that bolsters Israel’s destructive presence in the region,”Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

“It is unfortunate that Bahrain’s rulers ignore the Zionist regime’s daily crimes against the oppressed but resilient people of Palestine,” Khatibzadeh said, referring to Israel.

“This stain will not be erased from the reputation of Bahrain’s rulers. The people of the region will continue to oppose the process of normalisation of ties with the Zionist regime.”

Bahrain, a Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom, accuses Iran of stoking unrest in Bahrain, a charge that Shi’ite Muslim Tehran denies. The island state, which quashed an uprising led mostly by Shi’ite members of its population in 2011, saw some sporadic acts of protest after the Abraham Accords were signed.

Palestinians denounced the accords, saying they abandoned a unified position under which Arab states would make peace with Israel only if Israel gave up occupied territory

Reporting by Reuters

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in