Gulf countries strongly condemn Iran’s drone attack on Bahrain as rising tensions threaten MOU
Several Gulf countries have strongly denounced Iran’s drone strikes Saturday on the island nation of Bahrain, while vowing to stand united against any possible aggression from Tehran in the future.
This escalation poses the greatest threat yet to the memorandum of understanding signed last week by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
After Iran struck a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz Friday, the U.S. launched overnight airstrikes on Iranian missile, drone and radar sites. Iran responded Saturday with the drone strikes on Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, called Iran’s attack on Bahrain “treacherous,” adding that it will undermine ongoing peace efforts in the Middle East.
The GCC represents the interests of Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, several of which released their own statements condemning Iran.
Bahrain issued a response, confirming that Iran flew a number of drones into its territory and calling the strikes a “flagrant threat” to the nation’s security. It remains unclear exactly which areas Iran targeted.
“While the Ministry condemns this heinous aggression, it affirms that the Iranian regime’s continued attacks, at a time when regional and international efforts are moving towards de-escalation, place the sole responsibility on Tehran for undermining peace efforts and reveals an approach based on destabilizing security, exporting chaos and undermining regional stability,” Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry also said Saturday.
Officials in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also came out with statements on Saturday condemning Iran.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News’ James Cirrone.
Read the full article here
