TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (Mehr News Agency) - Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa and his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki discussed Tehran-Manama ties as well as region's developments.

In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Bahraini official said his country is highly determined to strengthen its relations with Iran in all areas.

Mottaki said that Iran's relations with Bahrain and other regional countries are based upon mutual respect and common interests.

Iran and other regional countries have always wanted to increase their cooperation and tried to foil conspiracies by the foreign agents in the region, Mottaki added.

The Islamic countries need to maintain their unity to reduce the Zionists' crimes, he said.

The telephone conversation between the two ministers followed media reports that said former Iranian Majlis speaker Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri had said Bahrain was part of the Iranian land.

To avoid any disinformation campaign by countries which seek to sow discord between Iran and its Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf region, Iranian Foreign Ministry has declared that Tehran fully respects Bahrain's national sovereignty.

... Payvand News - 02/22/09 ... --