Manama: Bahrain has dismissed a report claiming that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states were planning to buy an Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile system.
US television channel Fox News had reported that Bahrain and other Gulf states were negotiating to buy the Israeli-developed Iron Dome anti-missile system to defend against a growing arsenal of Iranian missiles.
However, Eisa Bin Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi , Bahrain’s Minister of Information Affairs and Minister of Representatives’ and Shura Council Affairs said the report quoting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about an Iron Dome anti-missile system was not true.
Al Hammadi said the foreign ministry had contacted the television channel and demanded a correction of the statement.
“The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are looking into buying an anti-missile defence system from the United States, and there are no attempts whatsoever to purchase the system from Israel as claimed by the television channel,” Al Hammadi said, quoted by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
The GCC has often complained about Iran’s interference in its domestic affairs and called Tehran to respect the values of mutual respect and good neighbourliness.