Tehran, March 16: Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani pointed to the recent visit by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the Bahraini capital city of Manama and said, “Following the visit, certain countries in the Persian Gulf announced that sending troops to Bahrain is aimed at supporting the ruling government in the country.”
“It is very clear that such an aggressive move has been carried out in support of the US during the defense secretary’s trip. Regional nations have the right to declare that Washington is responsible for any violence and killing,” ISNA quoted Larijani as saying.
“The visit by the US secretary of defense to Bahrain and the uncertain stance taken by European countries revealed the real attitude of the United States and West,” he emphasized.
The top Iranian parliamentarian noted that certain media exacerbated the “unreal atmosphere” of defending democracy through “the US deceitful gesture.”
“Now, the US defense secretary’s grave concerns about regional revolutions can be felt in his remarks,” he pointed out.
Robert Gates made an unannounced visit to Manama on Friday evening, shortly before troops from Saudi Arabia and other neighboring Arab countries were sent to Bahrain.
Larijani warned US-backed dictatorial governments in the region, which violated the basic rights of Bahraini people, to prepare themselves for the reaction of regional nations.
“Iran’s Majlis warns regional countries that they should not think that their military intervention, by the US order, will bear no cost,” he said and urged them not to provoke the oppressed people to stage further uprisings.
The Iranian Majlis Speaker’s remarks came after Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar dispatched their armed forces to crisis-hit Bahrain to quash anti-government protests in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.
The move has concerned UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has called for a meaningful and broad-based national dialogue.
The UN chief also urged Bahrain’s regional neighbors and the international community to support a dialogue process and an environment conducive for credible reform in Bahrain.
Six people died and more than 1,000 others were injured on Tuesday in clashes between anti-regime protesters and Bahrain’s security forces.
——-Agencies