“Manama ceases its discussions on Iranian gas imports, and rejects Tehran’s ‘agression’,” is the headline of today’s print edition of Pan Arab Asharq Al Awsat. Bahrain’s action comes after yet another senior Iranian official allegedly reiterated Iran’s claim to Bahrain as its 14th province. The remarks, attributed elsewhere to Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council and former Speaker of Parliament, constitute third time in as many years that an Iranian official has provoked Arab Gulf ire by perpetuating Iran’s long-standing, intermittent claim to ownership of the neighboring island nation. Previous remarks were attributed to the Editor of State-run Kayhan, Hussain Shariatmadari, and Dariush Qanbari, an Iranian member of parliament.
Sheikh Jasim Saidi, a Salafist member of Bahrain’s parliament, called for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador and a break in formal relations. The National Association for Oil and Gas would look to other neighboring countries, and increased local exploration to fulfil its incrasing natural gas needs,” as Bahrain could “not continue to negotiate with an ‘entity’ that denied its existence. ” The London-based Al Hayat leads with Saudi condemnation of Nateq Nouri’s remarks, which the Kingdom refers to as a “violation of Bahrain’s Arab identity.” Interviewed on Al-Jazeera radio, an unnamed Arab official was quoted as saying the incident was most unproductive, as Iran has much to gain from better relations with its Arab Gulf neighbors.
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