Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, was scheduled to attend the meeting in Bahrain, sponsored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, but pulled out at the last minute. No one from Iran will attend.
US officials said the conference, which will be attended by more than 200 senior national security, military and foreign policy officials, would encourage multilateral engagement in the region and provide a forum to discuss the role of Iran in the region.
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Bahrain
Iran cancelled plans yesterday to send its foreign minister to a conference on Gulf security at which Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, is giving the keynote speech, reports Demetri Sevastopulo in Bahrain.
Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, was scheduled to attend the meeting in Bahrain, sponsored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, but pulled out at the last minute. No one from Iran will attend.
US officials said the conference, which will be attended by more than 200 senior national security, military and foreign policy officials, would encourage multilateral engagement in the region and provide a forum to discuss the role of Iran in the region.
Mr Gates would be explaining that the Bush administration viewed the US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, which surprised many people when it was released this week, as justification of its policy, which has included sanctions, tough rhetoric, and sometimes gunship diplomacy.
