Al Khalifa increases tension in blame bid toward Iran for domestic unrest

Bahrain halts gas deal with Iran

MANAMA – Bahrain Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa said on Saturday that his country has frozen the gas import agreement with Iran until further notice.

According to a statement in the Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Khalid attributed the decision to troubled political relations between the two countries.

Shaikh Khalid said the gas import project was stopped because of Iran’s blatant interference in the kingdom’s domestic affairs. He said Iran’s successive provocative statements will affect agreements between the two countries, stressing that such projects require more suitable political atmosphere.

However, the foreign minister denied reports that the agreement was cancelled altogether, asserting that the kingdom is looking forward to setting up better relations with Iran and other neighbourly countries.

The agreement was signed between the two countries in 2008 to import one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, but the project, according to the minister, was delayed because of Iran’s interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs.

© Khaleej Times 2011