The Foreign Ministry summoned Iranian Chargé d’Affaires Mahdi Islami on Monday to address his country’s interference in the Kingdom’s internal affairs through deliberately attributing false information to Bahraini officials and promoting it in the media.
The Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary for Regional and GCC Affairs, Hamad Ahmed Al Amer, pointed out that such conduct incites sedition and sectarianism in the Bahraini community. Moreover, he dismissed claims by the Iranian mass media that Bahrain had requested Iranian mediation as false and asserted that Bahrain did not request any mediation from the Iranian minister with regards to its domestic affairs.
He further noted that Bahraini Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa had firmly ruled out such interference at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran, as well as with the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires in Manama, after a request had been made by the Iranian side on September 13, 2012.
Under-Secretary Al Amer underscored the fact that any interference in Bahrain’s domestic affairs through mediation or other methods, as well as in dealing with its citizens’ is unacceptable and would be an encroachment on its sovereignty and independence.
He also reiterated demands made through the Iranian diplomat that his country stops interfering in Bahrain’s internal affairs, particularly through incitement via its mass media; and through ties and contacts with specific groups in the Bahraini community.
Al Amer stressed that Iran must adhere to the rules of international diplomatic work and relations as well as the Charter of the United Nations. These rules, he added, reject and denounce all forms of interference in the states’ internal affairs directly or indirectly or through political, religious or media incitement with fraud, lies and fabrications.