MANAMA, Bahrain, March 25 (UPI) -- Iran could "make mistakes" that could create broader problems in the Persian Gulf region, the Bahraini foreign minister said.
Bahrain responded violently to growing unrest in the kingdom following the arrival troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Iran criticized a decision by the Sunni leadership in Bahrain to allow Saudi troops to enter the country last week. Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying alleged Iranian meddling could spark broader conflict in the region.
"They could make mistakes in causing a conflict," he said. "The campaign against us from Iran at this stage is political but it could have a different posture at any time."
Mark Toner, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said this week that while Iran had a reputation of meddling in regional affairs, Washington had "no evidence" Iran was involved in the Shiite uprising in Bahrain.
Khalid, however, said his government had to take the security situation serious.
"There is a serious fault in this region between Iran and its neighbors," he added.
U.N. officials added that a Bahraini decision to allegedly block access to hospitals was illegal.
