Iran is stepping up criticism of plans by Persian.Gulf Arab states to form a closer political, economic and military union.

On May 16, the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council, which organizes state-backed demonstrations in Iran, urged Iranians to stage rallies after Friday prayers this week to protest what it described as a U.S. plan to annex Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has warned that a union would only “deepen the wounds” in Bahrain, after Saudi Arabia sent troops to the island kingdom to quash recent unrest by the majority Shi’ites.

The six U.S.-allied Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Omar, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — are already linked in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

It was set up in 1981 to counter Shi’ite Iran’s influence.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source : RFE/RL