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Iran: Normalization with Israel Accelerates the End of the Bahrain Regime

(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt.-Col. (ret.) Michael Segall - Unlike the UAE, Bahrain is of particular historical, religious, and political importance to Iran. Bahrain was once under Persian rule (1602-1783) and as Iranian's 14th province it sent representatives to the Iranian Majlis (parliament). A Sunni minority rules the Shiite majority, and part of the population is Persian in their origin. In recent years there have been calls to restore Bahrain to Iranian rule. Iran has been acting to destabilize the Bahraini Kingdom and bring down the minority Sunni rule. The decision by Bahrain, with the backing of Saudi Arabia, to normalize relations with Israel is expected to lead to an increase in Iranian subversion efforts in the kingdom through local Shiite terrorist groups and the Shiite opposition parties with assistance from the Lebanese Hizbullah. Leading Iranian media, such as Kayhan, which reflect the opinions of the Supreme Leader Khamenei, have declared that Bahrain will be the first of the Gulf States to fall. The writer, an expert on strategic issues with a focus on Iran, is a senior research fellow at the Jerusalem Center.
2020-09-21 00:00:00
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