‘Positive results expected’
Bahrain backs Tehran-Arab dialogue mediated by Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, April 17: Bahraini Foreign Minister Prince Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammad Al-Khalifa expressed optimism over dialogue between Iran and Arabian Gulf countries. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by Kuwait, represented by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for mediating the dialogue, reports Press TV Iran.
During his visit to Kuwait on April 16, the minister indicated that political talks with Iran are continuing and that there are hopes the joint consultations with Tehran will produce positive results.
In this regard, Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hope that talks between the Gulf countries and Iran will get off the ground in the near future.
A number of goodwill steps have been taken to achieve dialogueue between Tehran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) through mediation by Kuwait.
Earlier in January this year, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah had visited Tehran with a message from GCC that was focused on a basis for dialogueue between GCC member states and Iran.
In response to this message, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had visited Kuwait and Oman.
Kuwait’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid Al-Jarallah had hailed the outcome of Rouhani’s visits, as the visits had formed the basis for producing circumstances in favor of a dialogue.
For the past two years, relations between Iran and some GCC member states have been strained with the exchange of accusations of involvement in regional conflicts, mostly in Syria and Yemen.
Tehran accused Saudi Arabia and Qatar of supporting takfiri militants and waging wars in Syria and Iraq. It also accused Riyadh of attacking Yemen for more than two years now.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has been criticizing Iran for supporting militants in Syria and Houthi fighters in Yemen. However, Iran denied these accusations.
Last January when angry protests were held outside Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after Saudi Arabia executed a top Shiite cleric Nimr Al-Nimr, Saudi Arabia had severed diplomatic ties with Iran.
In addition, Bahrain also accuses Iran of interfering in its affairs. It had also severed ties with Iran along with several other allies of Saudi Arabia.
However, Tehran rejected Bahrain’s claims but advised it to improve its human rights situation especially since protests against the regime in Bahrain had been ongoing for years.
Despite the strained relations, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Feb 7 affirmed Iran’s readiness to cooperate with all countries particularly its neighbors.