Manama seeks relations with Tehran based on 'respect'

Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Salman al-Khaleifa said in a statement to the London-based al-Zaman daily that his country seeks to maintain relations with Iran based on "exchanged respect and cooperation in the interests of the two peoples and countries."

He added, "We look to the future with great optimism to open a new page of relations between the two countries and to boost them." Such optimism, he indicated is built on Iranian statements and indications of a desire to promote these relations.

On Saturday Bahraini Defense Minister Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Ahmad Bin Khaleifa said that Iran constitutes a "threat" against his country, a matter which raised regret in Teheran which requested explanations from the Bahraini charge d'affairs in Teheran.

In the past Manama accused Teheran of standing behind anti-government acts of violence taking place in the country since December 1994. However, relations between the two countries have been improved since Iranian President Muhammad Khatami assumed authority in August 1997.