Iran summons Bahraini diplomat over terror cell claim

TEHRAN, Nov. 22 (MNA) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed the claims that a terrorist cell recently busted by Qatar and Bahrain had links with the Islamic Republic. The ministry refuted the claims during a meeting with the summoned Bahraini charge d’affaires on Sunday. Bahrain’s state news agency BNA reported on November 13 that members of a cell arrested before they could carry out attacks on the Bahraini Interior Ministry and the Saudi Arabian Embassy had been in contact with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. BNA also reported on November 12 that the interrogation of four Bahraini suspects detained in Qatar led to the arrest of a fifth member of the group in Bahrain. Bahraini authorities have also tied the arrests of alleged terrorist cell members with Iran, according to the CNN. During the meeting with the Bahraini charge d’affaires, Hossein Kamaliyan, the director general of the Iranian Foreign Ministry department for Persian Gulf affairs, protested such baseless claims and said that they are meant to divert attention from the incidents occurring in Bahrain. Such outmoded measures only serve the interests of the enemies, will not help resolve the problem facing Bahrain, and will only exacerbate the regional situation, Kamaliyan stated. The best solution to the crisis engulfing Bahrain is fulfilling the legitimate demands of the people, Kamaliyan added. The Bahraini official said that he will convey Iran’s protest to his country’s officials.