Bahrain: A Hot Potato Across The Persian Gulf
\nBy: Shahira Salloum – 18 May, 2012 – Al Akhbar<\/p>\n
Fifteen months into their uprising, Bahrainis balk at both the proposed union with Riyadh and statements reviving the Iranian claim to their country.<\/p>\n
Tensions are running high between the two coasts of the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n
The war of words pitting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain against Iran may be part of a regional struggle that is essentially over Syria rather than Bahrain. But Bahrain is its current focus, and it is the Bahraini people who are being made to pay the price.<\/p>\n
The escalation was triggered by the announcement of Saudi Arabia\u2019s plans to merge with Bahrain under the guise of forming a Gulf union, and fuelled by Iranian statements that were made in response.<\/p>\n
Some of these went as far as reviving Iran\u2019s former claim to Bahrain.<\/p>\n
The conservative newspaper Kayhan, which is seen as speaking for supreme leader Ali Khamenei, ran an editorial Tuesday which maintained that \u201cthe Islamic Republic, as guarantor of the safety and territorial integrity of Iran, reserves the right to want the return of a separated province to the Islamic homeland.\u201d It claimed that \u201cthe Bahrainis consider themselves to be Iranians, and reports indicate that they are eager to return to Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n
The speaker of the Iranian parliament, Ali Larijani, had earlier remarked that if Bahrain were to unite with any other country, it should be with Iran and not Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Tensions with Iran have also been used by the Bahraini authorities to justify cracking down harder on the opposition.
\nMeanwhile, Iran\u2019s Islamic Propagation Coordination Council urged Iranians to hold demonstrations in protest at \u201cthe American plan to annex Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.\u201d<\/p>\n
This followed a statement by a group of Iranian MPs warning the Saudis that the anti-regime protests in Bahrain would extend to their territory if it the proposed union was set up.<\/p>\n
The foreign ministry\u2019s spokesman, Ramin Mahmanbarast, was more diplomatic, remarking that \u201cthe solution to the crisis in Bahrain lies in fulfilling the legitimate demands of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such statements provoked a flurry of angry Saudi, Bahraini and Gulf responses.<\/p>\n
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal had warned Iran — at the conclusion of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Riyadh at which the planned union was discussed \u2013 that \u201cit has no business, whatsoever, in what happens between the two countries, even if extends to union.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bahraini government for its part summoned the Iranian charge d\u2019affaires to protest against his country\u2019s \u201cbrazen interference\u201d in its affairs.<\/p>\n
It also upped the ante that by signalling that although no proclamation of the union with Saudi Arabia was made at the Riyadh gathering, one would be forthcoming ahead of the GCC\u2019s next regular annual summit due to be held in Manama in December. The Bahraini king\u2019s media advisor, Nabil al-Hamar, tweeted what he termed the \u201cgood news\u201d that it would be formally established at special GCC summit to be convened in the Saudi capital.<\/p>\n
Tensions with Iran have also been used by the Bahraini authorities to justify cracking down harder on the opposition. On Wednesday they published a list of 20 people they said were wanted for committing \u201cterrorist crimes\u201d against the security forces. The harassment and arrest of opposition activists has also been stepped up.<\/p>\n
But how do the Bahraini people feel about Riyadh or Tehran\u2019s perceived designs on their country? The responses of prominent Bahrainis quizzed by Al-Akhbar about the proposed union with Saudi Arabia and the Iranian reaction varied.<\/p>\n
Liberal opposition activist Munira Fakhro drew a distinction between theory and practice as far as the former prospect is concerned. …more<\/a><\/p>\n