Bahrain says prepares for any threats over Iran

Manama, Apr 26: Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, said today it had made preparations for any ''possible threats'' because of a row between neighbouring Iran and the United States over Tehran's nuclear programme.

''We at the Interior Ministry have made plans to deal with the possible threats,'' Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa was quoted as saying by the official Bahrain News Agency BNA.

The interior minister expressed hope that no war or military strike against Iran would take place, BNA said.

Gulf Arab Kuwait, a launch pad for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, said on Monday it is taking ''precautionary measures'' for any developments in the Gulf region.

Sheikh Rashed said Bahrain set up a panel to make plans which include providing goods and strategic supplies.

He said the small island kingdom also applied for membership of the International Atomic Energy Agency so it could receive early warning in case of a nuclear threat.

The United States, which says Iran is trying to build an nuclear bomb, has said it wants a diplomatic solution to the standoff but has not ruled out military action if that failed.

Iran says its nuclear programme is only for power generation.

Reuters>