Manama, Feb 24, IRNA - Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouly and Emir of Bahrain, King Hamad bin-Issa ale-Khalifa here Monday night stressed need to expansion of bilateral relations.

Mahsouli who is visiting Bahrain to attend a security conference in Manama on and invitation extended by King Khalifa, met the Bahraini monarch on the sidelines of the conference.

During the meeting while stressing that the relations of the two countries are fortunately satisfactory, Mahsouly further reiterated, "Tehran attaches great importance to its friendly and warm relations with Manama and will not permit them to be harmed."

Conveying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's message to Emit of Bahrain, he added, "Iran and Bahrain are two Muslim and Friend countries and would permit no obstacle to block the path for further expansion of such great ties."

He also referred to President Ahmadinejad's strong will for broader level cooperation with Persian Gulf region countries, particularly with Bahrain.

Stressing that relying on cooperation with the Persian Gulf littoral countries assuring the security of the Persian Gulf is quite possible, Mahsouly added, "We definitely consider Bahrain as a close partner and friend and hope for comprehensive expansion of Tehran-Manama relations and cooperation."

Mahsouly emphasized that the enemies of Islam are after creating gaps among the world Muslims, but it is the duty of the Islamic countries and leader not to permit them, and particularly the racist Zionists, to achieve their objectives.

He also on behalf of President Ahmadinejad invited the King of Bahrain to have a state visit of Tehran at his earliest convenience.

According to the report, during the meeting King Issa ale-Khalifa, too, considered the Iranian interior minister's visit of his country as a factor contributing to further expansion of bilateral relations.

He added that his country, too, attaches great importance to relations with Iran and highly respects the Iranian friends, stressing the need to broader relations and closer cooperation with Tehran.

The Bahraini monarch referred to the historic and cultural records of the two countries' relations with Iran, praising Tehran's policies regarding his country.

The King of Bahrain added, "We were highly concerned lest the emerged misunderstanding would permit the enemies to take advantage and lead to further insecurity and enmities in the region."

King Khalifa reiterated, "It now seems as if the United States is adopting a moderate and more reasonable approach and it is hoped that the resulting changes would contribute to boosting regional security."

Mahsouly who arrived in Bahrain on Monday evening to attend a security conference here atop an Iranian delegation is meanwhile scheduled to hold talks with other high ranking officials here.

Mahsouly and his accompanying delegation are scheduled to depart for Tehran on Tuesday evening.

TEHRAN, Feb. 24 (Mehr News Agency) - Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani expressed indignation on Monday over a commotion created by certain regional countries over an unimpotant point made about the Persian Gulf state of Bahrain, saying such ballyhoo is probably aimed at deflecting attention from Palestine.

Certain countries' officials have visited Bahrain to express solidarity with Manama as a former Iranian official has allegedly said Bahrain was part of Iran in the past.

"It is clear that Bahrain is our friend and neighbor and we attach great respect for the government and people of Bahrain, but certain countries plan to sow discord and probably this is an attempt to detach attention from Palestine as the most important and central issue of the Islamic ummah," Larijani told lawmakers.

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