MANAMA, Bahrain, May 23 (UPI) -- The government of Bahrain announced it halted a plan to import Iranian natural gas because of "blatant" interference in domestic affairs, an official said.
Bahrain and Iran in 2008 signed a deal for imports of as much as 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Tehran last year said it was expecting Bahraini investments in the South Pars gas field, one of the largest gas complexes in the world.
Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, the Bahraini foreign minister, was quoted in the official Bahrain News Agency as saying the deal was off.
"The project to import Iranian gas is currently halted because of the blatant Iranian interference," he said.
Tehran is upset with a decision by Saudi Arabia to send forces to Bahrain under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The minority Sunni leadership in Bahrain is struggling to control mounting frustration from the country's Shiite majority.
