Iran deplores Bahraini minister's statements

Director general of the Arab Gulf department at the Iranian Foreign Ministry Ali Akbar Khaji has expressed regret over statements made by Bahraini Defense Minister Hamad al-Khaleifa to London-based al-Hayat daily in which he said that Iran still constitutes a real danger against Bahrain.

During a meeting today in Tehran with Bahrain's charge d'affairs in Tehran, Ramzi Othman, Khaji stressed the need to develop relations between the region's countries and to eliminate obstacles hindering progress in bilateral relations.

For his part, the Bahraini charge d'affairs said that necessary explanations will be made concerning the statements made by the Bahraini defense minister, after he had submitted a report on this regard to Manama.

Last Saturday, Bahrain said in a statement to London-based al-Hayat daily that Iran still occupied the three United Arab Emirates islands Greater Tanb, Lesser Tanb and Abu Mousa, and still constitutes a grave threat to Bahrain.