Iran Blasts Bahrain for Downplaying Palestine Issue

In a statement on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi slammed Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa for terming al-Quds (Jerusalem) a "side issue”, saying the Bahraini foreign minister makes such remarks to appease the American and Zionist rulers.

His comments came after the Bahraini diplomat played down concerns about the US president’s controversial decision to recognize the Palestinian city of al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of Israel, saying, "It’s not helpful to pick a fight with the USA over side issues while we together fight the clear and present danger of The Theo-Fascist Islamic republic.”

Denouncing Al-Khalifa’s unwise remarks, Qassemi added, "It is so regrettable that an Arab and Muslim country refers to a seven-decade-old wound on the injured body of Muslim world as a side issue, and is still unable to understand the simplest issues of the world.”

The spokesperson also added that such cheap and groundless remarks would just destroy and tarnish the reputation and image of Bahrain and its people at the global level, according to the Foreign Ministry’s website.

"Despite all complicated plots and conspiracies and the fabricated threats and crises created by the American-Zionist axis, Palestine has remained the top issue of Muslim world and an inseparable part of it and will remain so until its full liberation,” he added.

"No individual, country, and topic can distract the Muslim society’s attention from this crucial issue,” he concluded.

US President Donald Trump declared on December 6 that his administration would begin a years-long process of moving the American embassy in Tel Aviv to the city of Quds.

Palestinian leaders had previously warned the move would threaten a two-state solution.

Israel has occupied East Quds since the 1967 Middle East war. It annexed the area in 1980 and sees it as its exclusive domain. Under international law, the area is considered to be occupied territory.