Reuters/Abu Dhabi /Dubai
Bahrain said yesterday it had foiled an arms smuggling plot by two Bahrainis with ties to Iran and announced the recall of the kingdom’s ambassador to Tehran for consultations after what it said were repeated hostile Iranian statements.
Bahrain made the announcements on the eve of a tour of some Arab states by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif aimed at calming tensions following a historic nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. He is due to visit Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq today.
Announcing the arrests, the ministry said the two suspects had admitted receiving the shipment of explosives, automatic weapons and ammunition from Iranian handlers outside Bahrain’s territorial waters. It added that one had received military training at a Revolutionary Guards camp in Iran in 2013.
Bahrain said in June it had seized explosives and bomb-making materials earmarked for use in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in what it described as an Iranian attempt to use Bahraini borders as a base for attacking targets in the region.
Announcing the recall of its envoy, Bahrain said recent Iranian statements reflected an unfriendly attitude towards it and interference in its internal affairs, a statement on state news agency BNA said.
The government on Friday accused Iran of attempting to disrupt Bahrain’s security by providing weapons and explosives training to Bahrainis, and escalating violence on the island whenever the kingdom made “progress with national stability”.
Detailing the July 15 arrests, the ministry said the coastguard intercepted a vessel heading to the kingdom after meeting another vessel just outside Bahrain’s territorial waters.
“The two suspects have admitted receiving the shipment from Iranian handlers outside Bahrain’s territorial waters,” the ministry said. It named the two as Mahdi Subah Abdulmohsen Mohamed, 30, and Abas Abdulhussain Abdullah Mohamed, also 30.
