Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini Foreign Ministry summoned Sunday (17 May 2015) the Iranian charge d'affaires in protest of recent statements made by Iranian Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that Bahrain deemed a blatant interference in its internal affairs, according to BNA.

On Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei said before a group of Iranian officials and ambassadors of Muslim countries accredited to Tehran that, "The Yemen, Bahrain and Palestine nations are among oppressed nations", adding "While in Islam's heyday, polytheists in Mecca stopped wars in forbidden months, today in Yemen, in the month of Rajab in which [war is] forbidden, bombs and missiles are being dropped on innocent people." Noting that supporting the oppressed is an Islamic instruction, the Supreme Leader said, "We will defend the oppressed and confront the oppressor as much as we can," IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying.

During the meeting with Iranian Chargé d'Affaires to Bahrain Mohammad Reza Babaei, the foreign ministry's under-secretary Abdulla Abdullatif expressed "Bahrain's dissatisfaction and rejection of Sayed Ali Khamenei's latest statements" indicating that the said the statements "are not only unacceptable but also a blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Such statements disregard the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and international laws, which emphasize respect for the sovereignty of all countries and the principles of independence."

Abdulla Abdullatif highlighted "the need to immediately stop such irresponsible remarks" saying that "Iran must respect Bahrain's sovereignty and not interfere in its internal affair, instead it must focus on the issues of the Iranian people and Iranian affairs." He stressed that "Bahrain is committed to good-neighborly relations and non-interference in the affairs of others," adding that, "Bahrain is always keen on developing positive relations and constructive cooperation with all countries". He also stressed "the need to urgently convey this protest to Iranians officials," reported the agency.

The Arabic Issue