Iran Rejects Bahrain's Accusation of Sabotage on Oil Pipeline

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry has rejected the latest accusations from Bahrain regarding a 'sabotage' act by individuals that Manama has labeled as 'terrorists' linked to Iran. Bahram Qasemi, on the morning of November 21, described Bahrain's allegations as 'shallow and baseless statements.' He further stated, 'It seems that the only thing Bahraini officials have learned to say after every incident that occurs on the island is to blame Iran.' Qasemi asserted, 'The era of these childish deflections and accusations is over.' On Saturday, it was reported that an explosion and fire occurred in Bahrain's main oil pipeline. Raed bin Abdullah Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Interior, pointed the finger at Iran, claiming that the available 'evidence' indicated 'sabotage' in the oil pipeline targeting Bahrain's 'national interests' and the 'health' of its people. The Minister added that this explosion is 'the latest example of terrorist actions by terrorists who are directly connected to Iran and are directed by Iran.' The identity of the suspects in what Bahraini officials have termed 'sabotage' has not yet been determined. The explosion occurred near the village of Buri, 15 kilometers from Manama, the capital of Bahrain. This is not the first time Bahrain has made accusations regarding 'sabotage' or the connection of individuals or detainees accused of 'terrorism' with Tehran. In previous instances, Iran has denied allegations of interference in the internal affairs of that country. Bahrain, a small kingdom located in the Persian Gulf, has been ruled by the Khalifa family since 1783. The ruling dynasty in Bahrain is Sunni, while the majority of its citizens are Shia. In 2011, protests against the ruling dynasty were suppressed. There have been reports of militia operations or the discovery of weapons and ammunition caches in that country.