Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince ruled out on Tuesday any dialogue with arch rival Iran and pledged to protect his conservative kingdom from what he called Tehran's efforts to dominate the Muslim world.

The Islamic Republic of Iran expressed concern the continuous persecution of Shiites in Bahrain, arrests, and deprivation of citizenships for some Shiite religious clerics.

Bahraini Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said in a joint meeting held with the GCC states in Riyadh on Thursday (April 27, 2017) that his country faces persistent threats coming from the Iranian and Iraqi territories.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and hardline rival Ebrahim Raisi were both approved to run in May's presidential election by a government vetting body, while former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was disqualified, state media reported on Thursday.

Iran and the United States traded barbs over the landmark 2015 nuclear deal on Thursday, with the U.S. leader accusing Tehran of not living up to the spirit of the accord and Iran's top diplomat urging Washington to fulfil its own commitments.

The Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa confirmed the continuation of dialogue between Gulf States and Iran, expressing his appreciation to Bahrain’s efforts and endeavours made by Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah.

For six months, Indian fisherman S. George lived in fear on a boat, thinking he would never see his wife and children again.

Ex-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad submitted his name on Wednesday for registration as a candidate in Iran's presidential election in May, state media reported.

The Iranian authorities released on Monday 21 Asian sailors arrested over entering Iran’s territorial waters since over 5 months.

Bahrain's foreign minister said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump understood the region and the threats posed by their common adversary Iran better than Barack Obama.

Iran rejected an allegation by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis that it was "the primary exporter of terrorism" and said on Saturday that the main source was U.S. ally Saudi Arabia.

Gulf ministers meeting in Riyadh on Thursday condemned what they termed Iran's support for "terrorist gangs" in Bahrain and urged Tehran to stop fueling "sectarian conflicts".

Bahraini FM said that the Gulf States listened to some of Iran’s views concerning disputed issues, which he described as “neither deep nor direct.”

The United States is considering deepening its role in Yemen's conflict by more directly aiding its Gulf allies battling Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, officials say, potentially relaxing a U.S. policy that limited American support.

Iran rejected as "delusional" on Tuesday Bahraini claims that it was behind a "terrorist" cell accused of planning attacks on senior figures and security personnel in the Gulf kingdom.

The Bahraini Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa praised the efforts of security apparatuses for exposing and capturing an alleged terrorist cell.

Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Bahram Qasemi refused the new claims made by the Bahraini officials that Iran has had links with a so-called terrorist group arrested recently.

Bahrain is alleging a 14-member group backed by Iran planned assassinations in the island kingdom.

Bahrain said on Sunday it had broken an Iranian-linked "terrorist cell" suspected of involvement in a bomb attack on a police bus in February and plotting to assassinate senior officials, state news agency BNA reported.

Saudi Arabia said on Friday it had completed all necessary arrangements for Iranian pilgrims to attend the annual haj pilgrimage, the official SPA news agency said, an issue that has created tensions between the two regional powers in the past.