Bahrain’s political discourse did not, perhaps, add much when it described as ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ the attitude of Iran towards the Gulf Arab States. The peaceful Kingdom of Bahrain is not known for making threatening political or media statements. Our brothers in Bahrain are aware of the sensitivity of their geographical location, near the regional power. For such a reason, they are in no position to oppose and antagonize Iran. But crossing certain lines cannot always fall on deaf ears, especially when it comes to matters of national security. Manama cannot remain silent and patient as Iranian plots unfold.
Bahrain has accused Iran of waging and financing a ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ campaign to destabilize the Gulf Arab states and oust their ruling families. It has also accused Tehran of hosting terrorists and planning attacks in Bahrain and abroad. These accusations show only the tip of an iceberg of Iranian schemes targeting the security of the island kingdom.
Constantly denying any presence in Yemen, Iran had publicly boasted ‘occupying’ four major Arab capitals, including Sana’a. Now, it is contriving conspiracies against Bahrain, not to mention threatening Saudi Arabia with a thousand-missile arsenal waiting a green light from Supreme Leader Khamenei. But a strong message should be sent to Iran–a country training dozens of Bahraini citizens to carry out terrorist operations in their country, as part of a plot to overthrow the ruling regimes in the GCC, according to Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. Otherwise, Manama will be added to the list of Arab capitals Iranian officials flaunt ‘controlling’.
Early October, Bahrain surprisingly expelled the Iranian ambassador. It did not make this move on past occasions when relations with Iran were tense. However, the Bahraini authorities could not overlook yet another Iranian major threat to their national security and stability.
Ironically, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham said that the Saudis, militarily intervening in Yemen, are not in a position to talk about interventions made by other states. What this statement ignores is that Saudi Arabia did not act alone, but moved under an international legitimacy cover, a green light from the international Security Council and an approval by Arab countries taking part in the international coalition for constitutional legitimacy in Yemen. It is, therefore, not a matter of violation the sovereignty of other countries through military intervention, as opposed to what Iran is carrying in Yemen, Iraq and Syria, and attempting in Bahrain.
The way Ms. Afkham sees it, the Iranian occupation and flagrant interference in the affairs of Arab countries is a ‘responsible approach’ in Yemen, Syria and Bahrain. The spokesperson keeps repeating another Iranian cliché that ‘the political way is the best option to resolve the issues in the region.’ Her statement reminds me of a piece Iranian Foreign Minister wrote for Lebanese newspaper As-Safir, about two months ago, titled ‘The Neighbor Before the House’, in which he was preaching about finding ways to help the countries of the region to bring terrorism and tensions to an end(!)
Well said, Mr. Zarif and Ms. Afkham, but do you really want to bring terrorism to an end? I will tell you this… Can your country stop intervening, financing terrorism and making threats to its Arab neighbors? That should be quite enough to eradicate 50 percent or so of terrorism in the Middle East. All that will remain would be ending the battle with Daesh, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Mr. Zarif has referred to Verse 46 of Surat Al-Anfal, in which Lord Almighty says, ‘do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient; Indeed, Allah is with the patient.’ We invite him, as well, to bear it in mind. He mentioned another verse in his article, Verse 10 of Surat Al-Hujurat: ‘the believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers.’ We invite him and the mullahs of his regime to read it carefully. Is brotherhood to hide such an amount of explosives in the house of one’s brother in order to compromise his safety and stability? Is brotherhood to incite murder and bloodshed in places like Yemen or Iraq or Syria?
I can only remind Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, of Verse 204 of Surat Al-Baqara: ‘and of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.’ I say stop pretending piety and hiding behind political ‘taqiya’. Your actions reveal your intentions. Your support for terrorism is clearer than the sun, and Islam has nothing to do with your practices of instigation and provocation in the region.
