Iran Dismisses Bahraini Officials’ Claims, Urges Manama to End Crackdown
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi dismissed as “false and baseless” recent claims by some Bahraini officials against the Islamic Republic, saying the Bahraini regime had better end an ongoing crackdown on its people instead of trying to divert attention.
“It is surprising that Bahraini officials still insist on repeating false, baseless and useless accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Qassemi said on Monday.
The spokesperson made the remarks in response to some Bahraini officials’ claims that Iran has had links with a so-called terrorist cell arrested recently in the Persian Gulf country.
“Instead of making repetitive vain attempts to divert attention, the Bahraini government had better focus its efforts on respecting the rights of Bahraini citizens and ending the crackdown and arrests of clerics…,” he said.
Manama claimed on Sunday it had broken an Iranian-linked "terrorist cell" suspected of involvement in a bomb attack on a police bus in February and plotting to assassinate senior officials, according to state news agency BNA.
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
Amnesty International and many other international rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition groups and anti-regime protesters.