The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Abbas Mousavi, has responded to Bahraini Foreign Minister's comment about not allowing Iran to shut down the strait of Hormuz.

Mousavi warned the Bahraini chief diplomat not to threaten those who are bigger than him. "Mind your small size and do not threaten someone bigger than yourself," said Mousavi.

The Iranian spokesman read out a piece of Persian poetry, likening Bahrain to a fly and Iran to an eagle.

Earlier on Friday, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa had said in an interview with Saudi-linked Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran “will not be allowed to close for one day the Strait of Hormuz” and had called on Tehran to reconsider its regional policies.

According to the Iranian official news agency IRNA, besides the sarcastic response, Mousavi said that "the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the security of the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic waterway as long as Iran's interests are secured."

He added: "We suggest that this micro-state and dependent country should mind its small size and not threaten a bigger country."

Last week, some Iranian officials had said that Iran will shut down the waterway if it cannot export its oil via the Strait of Hormuz as the United States has threatened to zero Iran's oil export.

In late April, IRGC General Mohammad Baqeri (Bagheri) said that Iran does not want to close Hormuz, but in case of more animosity by “enemies, we will be capable of blocking” the strait, Mizan news agency reported.

The most recent threat to Shut down Hormuz was made by Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in an interview with Al-Jazeera to be aired on Saturday.