TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned the normalization of bilateral relations between Bahrain and Israel announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday.
The agreement establishing diplomatic ties between Israel and Bahrain comes one month after the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize ties with Israel under a US-brokered deal.
According to Iranian media, Iran’s foreign ministry said that it would hold the governments of Bahrain and its allies responsible for any insecurity caused by Israel in the Gulf region.
“Bahrain’s shameful move sacrifices the Palestinian cause and decades of struggle … at the expense of the US election,” Iranian TV quoted a foreign ministry statement as saying.
READ MORE: Donald Trump announces peace deal between Israel, Bahrain
The White House said Trump called Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before announcing the deal. Following the announcement, Palestine recalled its ambassador to Bahrain for consultations.
The UAE had also agreed to normalise ties with Israel a month ago under a US-brokered deal due to be signed on Tuesday at a ceremony hosted by Trump, who is seeking re-election on November 3.
Palestinians have expressed fear the moves by the UAE and Bahrain will weaken a long-standing pan-Arab position that calls for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory and acceptance of Palestinian statehood in return for normal relations with Arab countries.
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