Ahlul Bayt News Agency - ABNA - Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, who is in Manama for the 7th session of the Interior Ministers of Iraq's neighboring countries, reiterated Iran's support for sustainable security in the region.
"We want tranquility and stability in the region," Najjar said in a meeting with Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on Wednesday.
The Iranian minister added that foreign countries and enemies are seeking to undermine security and tranquility in the region to achieve their devilish goals.
Noting Iran's policy on Bahrain, Najjar said security in the Arab Persian Gulf state means "Iran's security", and added that security of Iran will amount to security in the entire region.
Najjar further reiterated the defensive nature of Iran's military power, and continued, "The Islamic Republic of Iran's power is deterrent and defensive (in nature) and serves the interests of the regional states."
On the bilateral ties between the two littoral states, the Iranian official lauded the close ties between Tehran and Manama, and noted, "The two countries enjoy proper capacities for expanding and developing their ties and relations."
He said that expansion of Iran's ties with the Persian Gulf littoral states will defuse the plots hatched by the enemies to sow discord in the Islamic World and among Muslims.
During the meeting, the Bahraini prime minister urged further expansion of Tehran-Manama ties, and stated, "Expansion of relations among the regional states will serve the interests of all parties and will defuse enemies' plots."
He further said that Bahrain attaches much importance to its ties with Iran, and concluded, "The nation and government of Bahrain will not accept any threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Tehran and Manama have in recent years enhanced mutual cooperation in a variety of areas, but the two countries have specially boosted their efforts to maximize their defense cooperation in the last two years.
The two countries exchange defense delegations on a regular basis to explore still more avenues for strengthening their mutual security and defense cooperation.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in June that Tehran is ready to help Bahrain and all other regional states in case they come under attack by the trans-regional powers.
Speaking in a meeting with visiting Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad bin Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Ahmadinejad said Tehran and Manama have lived together peacefully for centuries, and they do not allow any third party to undermine their bilateral ties.
He cautioned that if the bullying powers embark on any move against any regional country, Iran will counter them and will stand beside its brothers.
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