Iran threatens to retaliate after Bahrain orders diplomat to leave
cnn
26-Apr-2011


(CNN) -- Iran threatened a tit-for-tat response Tuesday after Bahrain declared an Iranian embassy official in Manama persona non grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.

On Monday, Bahrain ordered Hujatullah Rahmani, the second secretary in the Iranian embassy, to leave because of his alleged links to a Kuwaiti spy ring, the Bahrain News Agency said.

Bahrain also said Iran should stop its "irresponsible behavior" and not interfere in the country's internal affairs, the news agency said.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast responded Tuesday, saying Bahrain's actions are "not based on realities."

The spokesman said Iran reserved the right to take retaliatory measures against Bahrain, Iran's state-run Press TV said.

Relations between the two countries have been tense in recent months as Bahrain contends with an anti-government movement that it said is being fueled by Tehran.

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