Bahrain asks citizens to leave Iran, Iraq

MANAMA, Bahrain (AA) - Bahrain on Saturday issued a travel advisory for Iran and Iraq and asked its citizens living in the two countries to leave "immediately".

According to a Foreign Ministry statement issued by the Bahraini News Agency, Manama attributed these warnings to the "unstable situation in the region and the recent escalations and threats against security and stability".

Over the past few weeks, tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated as the U.S. deployed a carrier strike group and bomber task force to the Middle East, citing an imminent threat from Iran.

Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced Iran would curtail its compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that the U.S. withdrew from in 2017 saying it did not adequately address Iran’s missile programs.