Strong Warning from Quds Force Commander to the Bahraini Government

On Tuesday, June 21, the commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards issued an unprecedented statement threatening the Bahraini government that the revocation of Sheikh Isa Qassim's citizenship, a prominent Shia cleric, would lead to "armed resistance" and the "fall of the Bahraini regime." Qassem Soleimani, who reports indicate is present in Syria, stated in his announcement: "The violation of Sheikh Isa Qassim's sanctity is a red line that crossing it will ignite a fire in Bahrain and throughout the region, leaving the people with no choice but armed resistance." He added that the Bahraini government would "definitely pay the price" for revoking Isa Qassim's citizenship, and the outcome would be nothing but the destruction of this tyrannical regime. The Bahraini Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday that Isa Qassim's citizenship had been revoked, accusing the cleric of attempting to divide Bahraini society, encouraging youth to violate the constitution, and inciting ethnic tensions in the country. This action led to thousands gathering outside Isa Qassim's home to protest the decision. Qassem Soleimani further stated: "It seems that the Al Khalifa regime has taken advantage of the peaceful movement of the people and does not have an accurate assessment of the people's anger." The Quds Force commander added: "Supporters of the Al Khalifa should know that insulting Sheikh Isa Qassim and continuing excessive pressure on the people of Bahrain is the beginning of a bloody intifada, the consequences of which will fall on those who grant legitimacy to the audacity of the Bahraini rulers." This may be the first statement issued by Qassem Soleimani regarding a foreign issue. He usually gives speeches, and his direct comments on domestic and foreign matters are few. The statement from the Quds Force commander comes at a time when the Iranian Foreign Ministry has taken a milder stance, condemning the revocation of Isa Qassim's citizenship and stating that "these actions eliminate hope for reform through dialogue and peaceful methods." The Iranian Foreign Ministry has "recommended" the Bahraini government to "end illegal actions, avoid destroying all bridges of communication with the people and moderate leaders of this country, and to end the current crisis in Bahrain by accepting the realities of the country and holding serious national dialogues." The Lebanese Hezbollah group, which Bahrain accuses of supporting the opposition to the Manama regime, has also issued a strong statement describing the Bahraini government's decision as "extremely dangerous" and warning that "this action will have dire consequences for the ruling system in this country." The group stated: "Officials, with their foolishness and recklessness, are pushing the people of Bahrain towards a difficult choice that will have dire consequences for the corrupt, dictatorial regime." Gulf Arab countries, including Bahrain, have repeatedly accused the Iranian government and Hezbollah of interfering in their internal affairs and fueling protests, while Tehran denies these accusations. Iran and Bahrain do not have diplomatic relations.