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Iran and Bahrain say minister's trip will boost ties

24/02/2009 10:17 TEHRAN, Feb 24

Links between Iran and Bahrain will improve following a visit by the Iranian interior minister to Manama on Monday in the wake of anger about Tehran's attitude to the Gulf kingdom, the countries said.
Sadeq Mahsouli came with an invitation for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa to visit Tehran, according to Iranian state television's website.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad al-Khalifa said Mahsouli's visit was "a generous step from the Iranian Muslim republic and neighbour that will strengthen ties between both countries," Bahrain's BNA news agency reported.
"The relationship between the two countries is a warm and sincere one and will not be hurt by the mischief of enemies," Mahsouli was quoted by Iranian state television's website as telling Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa in Manama.
"Tehran and Manama will not allow anyone to cause divisions between them or to prevent both nations boosting relations," he said.
The minister said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants Iran to strengthen ties with its Gulf neighbours, particularly Bahrain.
King Hamad said he "appreciates this visit... and has pointed to the importance of reinforcing the fraternal relations and cooperation between both countries," according to BNA.
Bahrain protested to Tehran after Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri, a prominent conservative member of Iran's powerful Expediency Council, reportedly said the kingdom used to be Iran's 14th province and had a representative in its parliament.
The reported comments triggered wide condemnation in the kingdom as well as from neighbouring Gulf monarchies and Arab leaders in general.
Iran moved to defuse the spat, which threatened a major gas deal between the two nations, by saying it respects Bahrain's sovereignty.
The relationship between Sunni-ruled Arab states in the Gulf and Shiite Iran has long been strained, with neighbours wary about the Islamic republic's nuclear drive and its close ties with the new Shiite-led government in Iraq.


©2009 AFP


Original Article: http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=090224101750.todgc1jm.php