Kerry calls for help on Iran to put an end to wars

John Kerry: Kerry's visit comes two weeks before US President Barack Obama, traveling to Riyadh


US Secretary of State, John Kerry, asked on Thursday to help Iran to put an end to Yemen wars and Syria, where Tehran and its Arab rivals in the Gulf supporting different sides.

During his visit to Bahrain, the first of an American secretary of state since 2010, Kerry advocated respect for human rights in the country, majority Shiite but ruled by a Sunni monarchy.

Kerry's visit comes two weeks before US President Barack Obama, traveling to Riyadh to attend the Council of Cooperation of the six Gulf nations summit.

Sunni monarchies are afraid of the United States for its recent rapprochement with Iran.

Kerry called on Tehran to "help us to end the war in Yemen (...) help us to end the war in Syria, not enhance it and help us be able to change the dynamics of this region," he said in a press conference in Bahrain.

During his visit, before meeting with his colleagues from the Gulf, he said Tehran should "show the world that wants to be a constructive member of the international community, and contribute to peace and stability."

In Yemen, Iran supports huthis Shi'ite rebels, who took many areas in the country, including the capital Sanaa, and for more than one year are bombarded by a coalition under Saudi control.

In Syria, Tehran, Shiite power in the Middle East, strongly supports the regime of Bashar al-Assad, controlled by the Saudi clan, an arm of Shi'ite Islam.

The foreign minister of Bahrain, Khaled bin Ahmed al Khalifa, whose government accuses Iran of encouraging the protests of Shiites to end the Sunni power, Kerry echoed the statements.

"Yes, we want Iran to change its foreign policy," said Minister of Bahrain, next to Kerry.

Reporting NGO

Tehran argues that Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Gulf are causing instability in the region with airstrikes in Yemen and supporting the opposition in Syria.

All Gulf states except Oman, part of the coalition led by Riyadh bombing the rebels in Yemen since March last year. According to the UN, during this period 6,300 people died in the country.

The NGO Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that weapons supplied by the United States was used by coalition bombing of a market in which 97 civilians were killed last month.

When asked about it, Kerry said he had no solid information on the weapons used in Yemen.

Bahrain, a Sunni monarchy ruling a mainly Shiite population, suffered a popular uprising in 2011, in line with other movements of the Arab Spring.

During the visit, Kerry lamented the divisions between Shiites and Sunnis in the country.

"Here, as in all nations, we believe that respect for human rights and an inclusive political system are essential," said Kerry.