Tehran: Iran has expelled a senior official from Bahrain’s embassy in Tehran in apparent retaliation after Bahrain did the same to its envoy in Manama.
“The number two official in Bahrain’s embassy in Iran is persona non grata and Mr Bassam Al Dossari must leave Iran’s territory within 72 hours,” the official IRNA news agency quoted a foreign ministry statement as saying late Friday.
Bahrain on Thursday recalled its ambassador from Iran and ordered Tehran’s envoy to leave within 72 hours, citing Iranian “interference” in its affairs.
On Friday, Bahrain took its protest to the United Nations by submitting a complaint against Iran.
“Iran has chosen the path of escalation in an attempt to exert control over its neighbours by continuing to interfere in internal affairs” of neighbouring countries, BNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Khaled Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa as telling UN chief Ban Ki-moon.
Bahrain is part of an arab coalition, led by Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia, that has been striking Tehran-backed Al Houthi militants in Yemen for over six months.
The coalition accuses Iran of arming militants in Bahrain and Yemen.
