Parroting the Saudi officials’ claims on Tuesday, Al-Khalifa called Iran as an occupier.
In response, an informed source at the Iranian foreign ministry said on Wednesday “such remarks are actually the Bahraini official’s attempt to project the blame on others for an accusation whose instances can be seen in their own actions, and these comments are uttered as a result of the fact that today even their allies and friendly states have clearly admitted to the role of certain members of the recently-founded anti-ISIL coalition in creating and strengthening the terrorist group”.
“The theatrical presence of certain countries in the anti-ISIL coalition has created this illusion for these countries that they are actually the pioneer of fighting terrorism, and that the world public opinion will forget what cruel relationships have been established with the help of the foreign occupying forces inside these countries against their own people,” the source added.
Al Khalifa’s allegations against Iran were a repetition of similar comments by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Feisal who alleged on Monday that Iran should withdraw what he called as “occupying forces” from Syria.
Feisal’s remarks were blasted by Chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi who said “occupier” is a word which best fits Saudi Arabia.
“I think that Mr. Saud al-Feisal has uttered these remarks due to his old age and illness,” Boroujerdi told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday.
Boroujerdi underlined Iran’s constructive role in Syria by helping the country in its war on terrorism, and said that “the word, occupation, best fits Saudi Arabia” which sees Bahrain and its defenseless people as a province of Saudi Arabia under the Island Defense Shield Treaty.
“We are a country that even the US as our number one enemy has admitted that Iran has played a constructive role in the region, and that settlement of the regional issues is not possible without Iran’s presence,” he added.
On September 16, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the constructive role that Iran has always played in the settlement of the regional crises, and called for more interaction with Tehran to utilize it experiences and capabilities.
“Iran can play an effective and constructive role in resolving the regional crises, including Iraq, Syria and Yemen,” Ban said, addressing a press conference in New York.
“As I have said several times Iran is the most important country in the region,” the UN chief added.
He noted that Iran’s role in the restoration of peace and stability in the region is crucial, and said, “I hope that Tehran could continue its constructive and effective interaction for resolving these crises and restoring peace and stability to the Middle-East.”