Iran described Israeli International Minister Yair Lapid’s current go to to Bahrain as a “stain” on the Gulf monarchy.
“This stain is not going to be erased from the popularity of Bahrain’s rulers,” state information company IRNA quoted Iranian International Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.
“The individuals of the area will proceed to oppose the method of normalization of ties with the Zionist regime,” Khatibzadeh mentioned.
Lapid opened the Israeli Embassy in Manama Thursday, a 12 months after Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations with Israel in a normalization deal brokered by the Trump administration. Whereas within the Bahraini capital, Lapid met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Throughout a joint press convention with Lapid, Bahrain International Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani reiterated his nation’s help for a two-state answer that represents “the rights, pursuits and aspirations of all events.” He added that Bahrain has chosen “peace and dialogue as a strategic possibility.”
Bahrain’s normalization with Israel final 12 months was denounced by Palestinians as a violation of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which requires Israel to withdraw from lands captured since 1967 earlier than gaining any recognition from Arab states. The Iranian authorities slammed the institution of ties as “shameful.”
“It’s unlucky that Bahrain’s rulers ignore the Zionist regime’s every day crimes in opposition to the oppressed however resilient individuals of Palestine,” Khatibzadeh mentioned Thursday.
A spokesperson for the Gaza-based militant group Hamas additionally slammed Lapid’s go to to Bahrain, saying it inspired Israel’s “crimes in opposition to our individuals.”
