Bahrain blames Iran over pipeline fire

Bahrain said an explosion which caused a fire at its main oil pipeline on Friday was caused by “terrorist” sabotage, linking the attack to its arch-foe Iran, which denies any role in the Gulf island kingdom’s unrest.

A key Western ally and host to the US Fifth Fleet, Sunni-ruled Bahrain has for years grappled with protests and sporadic violence coming from its Shia majority. “Terrorist acts witnessed by the country in the recent period are carried out through direct contacts and instructions from Iran,” said Bahrain’s interior minister.