Bahrain foils elaborate Iran-backed terror plot

DOHA RECALLS AMBASSADOR TO TEHRAN OVER SAUDI MISSION ATTACKS

Bahrain yesterday said it had foiled an elaborate Iran-backed terrorist plot to carry out a series of bombings in the country. The plot comes amid Iran’s growing isolation in the region as many Arab states severed or downgraded their relations with Tehran after the Saudi missions were attacked over the weekend. The plot will likely add more fuel to the fire of current escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran that has reached unprecedented levels.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ebrahim Al Ja’afari, who met in the Iranian capital his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, offered to play a mediating role between the two countries. Riyadh questioned Iraq’s ability to be an honest broker after it called the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr Al Nimr “a crime”. Iraq’s government enjoys very close relations with Tehran.

Investigations

Bahraini investigators revealed that the terrorist outfit Al Basta Group received financial and logistical support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRG) and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Some members of the group have been arrested.

Manama has repeatedly protested Iranian interference in its affairs and accuses it of fomenting internal division in the country. It followed Saudi Arabia in severing relations with Iran this week.

The UAE lowered the level of diplomatic representation, Kuwait recalled its ambassador from Tehran and summoned the Iranian envoy to protest the attacks on Saudi missions.

Jordan summons envoy

Qatar yesterday recalled its ambassador to Iran, state newsagency QNA said.

“The ministry summoned this morning Qatar’s ambassador to Tehran against the backdrop of attacks on the embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Tehran...,” the agency quoted Khalid Ebrahim Abdul Rahman Al Hamar, the director of the Asian Affairs Department, as saying.

Jordan also summoned Tehran’s ambassador yesterday to protest the attacks.

Meanwhile, all of Iran’s diplomats expelled from Saudi Arabia arrived home yesterday.