Bahrain's Foreign Minister: Iran Will Remain, But the Islamic Republic Will Fall

On Tuesday, January 5, Bahrain's Foreign Minister criticized the Islamic Republic of Iran in a series of tweets, stating that "Iran will remain, but the Islamic Republic will fall." Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa added, "The Islamic Republic and its followers know who stands against their despicable expansionist project and plots against them; may God protect the king and his loyal men." In another tweet, he reiterated, "I will not miss the opportunity to repeat that Iran is enduring, but the Islamic Republic is in a strange, emergency situation and is temporary." In a subsequent tweet, he remarked, "If the Islamic Republic does not like our words, it can go drown in the sea and bang its head against the walls. We and our brothers stand firm in our words and will prevent their followers and their project." Sheikh Khalid had previously tweeted on December 21, "Iran is enduring, and the Islamic Republic is temporary." On December 20, he tweeted in English, "It is not constructive to engage with the U.S. over peripheral issues, as we are at war with the clear and present danger of religious fascism, the Islamic Republic." Relations between Iran and Bahrain have been tense since the onset of dissatisfaction in Arab countries known as the "Arab Spring" in 2011. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed following an attack by a radical Islamist group on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. In recent years, Manama has repeatedly accused Iran of organizing militia groups in Bahrain and conducting terrorist operations, which Iran denies. Earlier this year, the Bahraini government announced the identification and arrest of a "terrorist group linked to the Revolutionary Guard." According to Manama, this group was involved in an attack on a police bus, but Iran dismissed the accusation as "false and baseless." Last winter, Bahrain executed three Shia citizens accused of killing three police officers, marking the first executions in two decades, which sparked protests in the country. Reports from Al Arabiya and Reuters indicate that Bahrain's court sentenced six individuals to death for attempted murder, while three Emirati citizens were sentenced to long prison terms for espionage for Iran.