Iran’s foreign minister said Monday that relations between “a few Arab states and the Zionist regime” is not in the interest of stability and peace in the region.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who was speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Syrian foreign minister Faisal Mekdad also demanded the exit of foreign forces from Syria that are present “without coordination with the sovereign government elected by the Syrian people.”

The establishment of full relations last year between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain with Israel was a sign of Tehran’s inability to isolate its arch enemy in the region. Iranian officials also made veiled threats against Arab countries willing to establish ties with Israel.

Iran strongly opposes the presence of a few hundred US troops in Syria that were stationed when the United States was fighting the Islamic State group with help of local militias.

Amir-Abdollahian also expressed satisfaction that some Western and Arab countries are reconsidering their policies in regard with Syria.

Iran played a pivotal role in defending Bashar al-Assad’s government from opposition forces in the Syrian civil war by dispatching troops and financial assistance.