Bahrain's FM to visit Iran

Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad Bin Mubarak al-Khaleifa will hold an official visit to Tehran at the invitation of the Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi on May 3-4.

During this visit, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Mubarak will convey a message from the ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa, to Iranian President Muhammad Khatami.

The Bahraini Foreign Minister will discuss with his Iranian counterpart and several Iranian officials means of developing and boosting relations between the two countries as well as the situation in the Gulf region and issues of mutual concern.

This is the first visit for a Bahraini official on this level since June 4, 1996, when relations between the two countries witnessed a great deterioration that resulted in reducing the level of diplomatic representation as Bahrain accused Iran of getting involved in " a terrorist plan backed and financed by Iran to topple the regime in Bahrain by means of force."

Relations between the two countries were restored on the level of ambassadors several weeks ago.