Arab World Frets Over Iran Nukes

The crown prince of Bahrain has become the first Arab leader to accuse Iran of lying about  its nuclear program. In an interview with the Times of London, Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa pushes aside diplomatic language as threats of a military strike multiply. "While they don’t have the bomb yet, they are developing it, or the capability for it," says the prince.

Bahrain is a staunch American ally, and the US Navy maintains bases on the island in the Persian Gulf. As Iran has ratcheted up its war rhetoric, threatening to attack sites across the Gulf "if necessary," relatively stable Bahrain has become increasingly anxious. Bahrain is also a Shiite-majority country led by a Sunni monarchy, which antagonizes Iran. (More Iran stories.)