Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenie’s remarks “incite sectarian violence” in Bahrain, stated Al-Azhar, the most prestigious Sunni institution in the region, and Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.
During his sermon on Eid al-Fitr, Khamenie said that reaching an agreement between Tehran and Western countries would not change Iran’s policy towards “U.S. arrogant government.” He added that his country would not stop its support to friends in the region and to the “oppressed” nations of Palestinian, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Bahrain.
Bahrain summoned Monday the Iranian embassy’s acting charge d’affaires Mortadha Sanubari, protesting the Supreme leader’s “flagrant and unacceptable interference,” according to the official Bahrain News Agency.
“The Iranian leader’s comments are unacceptable interference and it is a clear infringement on the sovereignty and independence of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” al-Azhar said in a statement Thursday, announcing its support to the neighboring Gulf State.
In another statement Wednesday Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdel Atty expressed Egypt’s support to Bahrain.
“Egypt fullyl rejects interference in the internal affairs of Arab brotherly countries,” the statement read, calling for commitment to the provisions of the U.N. Charter that confirmed the respect for the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.
Since 2011, Bahrain has witnessed a number of protests by the majority-Shiite population against the Sunni ruling family, backed by Saudi Arabia. Neighboring countries have accused Iran of supporting Shiite populations.
