AhlulBayt News Agency

source : FNA
Wednesday

6 July 2011

7:30:00 PM
251900

Saudi Pullout from Bahrain "Iran's Precondition for Talks with Riyadh": Senior Iranian lawmaker

A senior Iranian lawmaker reminded Riyadh's collaboration with the Al-Khalifa regime on the suppression of the Bahraini people, and underlined that Tehran would hold talks with Saudi Arabia only after the latter withdraws its forces from Bahrain.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A senior Iranian lawmaker reminded Riyadh's collaboration with the Al-Khalifa regime on the suppression of the Bahraini people, and underlined that Tehran would hold talks with Saudi Arabia only after the latter withdraws its forces from Bahrain.    

"Saudi Arabia can provide the ground for talks and negotiations with the Islamic Republic by withdrawing from Bahrain," Head of the parliament's Foreign Policy Committee Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said on Wednesday.

"If Saudi Arabia pulls out of Bahrain, many problems will be settled.

"Hence, the precondition set not only by Iran but by different countries which attach importance to the reinvigoration of regional diplomacy is the end of the Saudi occupation of Bahrain," he added.

Falahatpisheh also welcomed recent reports about the withdrawal of a part of the Saudi forces from Bahrain, and said the revelation has gladdened a large number of the world countries.

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule.

Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.

So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and more than 1,000 others have been injured.

Yet, protests and rallies continued throughout the country in defiance of the martial law put in place by Manama since February.

Bahrainis have repeatedly condemned Riyadh's major role in the suppression of their revolution, and underlined that they would continue protests until the Al Khalifa regime collapses.

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