Bahrain said on Thursday it had recalled its ambassador to Iran, a day after it claimed security forces had discovered a large bomb-making factory and arrested a number of suspects allegedly linked to Iran. Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had also declared the Iranian charge d’affaires in Bahrain, Mohammad Reza Babaei, a “persona non grata” and gave him 72 hours to leave the country, Reuters reported. In a statement on its website, the ministry said the decision to recall its ambassador had come “in light of continued [alleged] Iranian meddling in the affairs of the kingdom of Bahrain... to create sectarian strife and to impose hegemony and control”. Iran denies involvement in any violence in Bahrain. In reference to Bahrain’s move, deputy chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said, “The Bahraini government’s behavior indicates that they are subservient to Saudi Arabia.” Mansour Haqiqatpour also said Tehran will continue backing the Bahraini people to help them “decide their own fate,” ICANA reported.
