Bahrain recalled its ambassador to Iran and declared the Iranian acting charge d’affaires in Manama persona non-grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.
A statement issued by the ministry on Thursday evening attributed the decision to Iran’s “continuous interference in Bahrain’s domestic affairs” and to its attempt “to create sectarian strife and to impose its hegemony on the region.”
“In light of the continued Iranian meddling in the affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain without any legal deterrent or a moral limits and its illicit attempts and practices to create sectarian strife and impose its hegemony and control over the entire region through reprehensible tools and means that go beyond offending statements from senior officials to include supporting subversion, terrorism and incitement to violence through misleading media campaigns as well as assisting terrorist groups in the smuggling of weapons and explosives, and training their members, and harbouring fugitives from justice,” the ministry said.
“In the face of Iran's repeated and blatant violation of all norms, laws and international conventions and principles of good neighbourliness, mutual respect and unacceptable infringement on the independence and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain violations, Bahrain has decided to recall its ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran Rashid Saad Al Dosari and to consider Mr. Mohammad Reza Babai, Acting Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Kingdom, persona non grata and must leave the country within 72 hours,” the ministry said.
