Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, has said that they are willing to mend their relations with Iran if it abides by certain conditions. He made the remarks during a press conference after a Joint Ministerial Council Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union held at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa.
According to him, Iran should deter itself from mingling in the internal affairs of the Gulf. He added that Iran should also cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its nuclear program. Iran is yet to respond to remarks made by the foreign minister. However, Sheikh Khalid said “the GCC states recognize the importance of their ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran” and pointed out that Bahrain is willing to “open a new page.” The election of a new Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, is seen as an opportunity to renew ties with Iran by several countries.
The foreign minister called on the new president to be more transparent with the nuclear program, the GCC states being “deeply concerned” by the havoc it can cause to the region and its population. Sheikh Khalid didn’t shy away from criticizing and accusing Iran of illegally occupying the three Emirates islands (Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb), of its “physical interference” in Syria and continuous interference in domestic affairs of regional countries.
In his closing remarks, he urged Iran to abide by IAEA’s guidelines and to peacefully leave the three islands of refer the case to the international Court of Justice. He claimed that Iran as a “close neighbor,” they will continue to look for the opening of “a new page of relations.”
Bahrain wants a new start with Iran
