Bahrain late on October 1 ordered the acting Iranian charge d'affaires to leave the country within 72 hours and recalled its own ambassador over allegations that Tehran has sponsored "subversion" and funneled weapons to militants in Bahrain.
There was no immediate response from Tehran about the expulsion of the Iranian diplomat, identified by the state-run Bahrain News Agency as Mohammad Reza Babai.
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said it already had decided to recall its ambassador to Iran, Rashid Saad Al Dossari, as a result of what it called "continued Iranian interference."
The ministry’s allegations against Iran "include supporting subversion, terrorism and incitement to violence through misleading media campaigns as well as assisting terrorist groups in the smuggling of weapons and explosives and training their members and harboring fugitives from justice.”
Sunni-ruled Bahrain has faced four years of unrest from Shi'ite activists who are demanding more political freedom.