Anti-Iran Allegations at Manama Confab Denounced

"Countries that are the sources and supporters of terrorism and extremism themselves … cannot attribute their self-created troubles to Iran," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted as saying by ISNA. 

During the conference in Manama, Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa had accused Iran of regional hegemony, employing hostile policies toward neighbors and backing terrorist proxy groups. 

"What we lack overall with Iran is trust," Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Jubeir also accused Iran of spreading sectarianism.  

"Appeasement … will not work with the Iranian [government]," he contended.

Jubeir noted that the international community must "extract a price from Iran" for the Sept. 14 attacks on Saudi oil facilities that Riyadh blames on Tehran. 

The attack has been claimed by Yemeni Houthi fighters and Tehran denies being behind the operation, but Jubeir insisted that it was orchestrated with Iranian weapons.

Iran morally supports Yemeni Houthis, but denies providing them with any military backing. 

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash alleged during the event that Iran's “expansionist” policy is one of the reasons for the regional instability.

Evasive Approach 

Mousavi stressed that these countries are trying to evade responsibility for regional issues by laying the blame on Iran. 

"[They] interfere in other countries' domestic affairs by violating the principle of good neighborliness and jeopardize the region’s security by attracting foreign forces," he said, referring to the United States' military presence in the region.  

He cited as an example the Saudi-led coalition's military invasion of Yemen, as a result of which tens of thousands of innocent women and children have been killed and the country's infrastructure has been devastated. 

The coalition has been at war with Yemeni Houthi fighters in support of the ousted and Riyadh-allied president, Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi.

The spokesman also criticized the Persian Gulf Arab states for adopting “colonialist” policies and attempting to topple legitimate regional governments to put allied regimes in charge. 

"[These practices] will not be erased from the historical memory of the people of this region and the world," he said.  

Mousavi urged these countries to accept the reality and engage in collective talks and cooperation to ensure the stability, security and progress of the region.