Agence France-Presse,
Manama (AFP): The Gulf state of Bahrain, which provides the home base for the US Fifth Fleet, said Wednesday that it had taken all necessary precautions for any conflict between the United States and Iran.
Interior Minister Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa told state television that the authorities had “drawn up a plan to deal with any threats,” but added that he hoped there would be no US strike against Iran or any new conflict in the region.
“A national committee established in May 2006 to prepare for any catastrophes … has already taken the necessary measures,” the minister said.
Bahrain is the second Gulf state to announce it has drawn up contingency plans for conflict between the United States and Iran amid the standoff over the latter's nuclear programme.
US ally Kuwait announced last week that it was forming an emergency team to draw up its own contingency plans for any conflict.
Washington has said that it would prefer to address its concerns about Tehran's nuclear programme diplomatically but has refused to rule out the option of military action.
It has beefed up its military presence in the Gulf and currently has a second aircraft carrier there for the first time since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
