Manama: Bahrain said the decision of US President Donald Trump to pull out from the nuclear deal with Iran reflects his country’s commitment to confronting Iranian policies and Tehran’s continuous attempts to spread terrorism in the region in full violation of international norms and laws.
“The agreement was characterized by several shortcomings, most important of which was not addressing Iran’s ballistic missile program and its threat to the security and stability of the region through its interference in the internal affairs of other countries as well as its support of militias in these countries,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement shortly after Trump made his announcement.
“Bahrain also calls upon all other signatories to the agreement to consider the security and peace of the region and to take steps similar to those of the US.”
The international community should take measures to make Iran respect the sovereignty of its neighbours and not interfere in their domestic affairs as well as prevent it from funding and supporting extremist militias in the region, the ministry said.
In a series of tweets, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa praised the leadership of the US president and lashed out at the deal.
“The decision by President Donald Trump to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and to re-impose sanctions of the Iranian regime is an outstanding leadership stance. Bahrain supports and welcomes it,” he posted on the microblog.
“The Iran nuclear deal was weak and crippled. It was a flawed agreement that freed Iran’s hand to tamper with the security and stability of the region. Today, thank God, it collapsed.”
Bahrain had insisted before the deal was struck that the whole region should benefit from it and that it should not be at the expense of some countries.
“We need a good agreement that protects the interests of countries in the region altogether, not one country getting what it wants from world powers while disregarding interests of remaining countries in the region,” Shaikh Khalid told the parliament in 2015.
Bahrain warned that Iran could use the deal to increase its interference in the domestic affairs of countries in the region.
On his Twitter account on Tuesday evening, Shaikh Khalid mocked Iran’s accusation that the US broke its promises.
“Iran says that the US breaks its promises! We have had, over decades, numerous treaties with the United States and it has not broken any of them. However, we did see the breach of covenants, lies and conspiracy from the not trustworthy Iranian regime.”
