“The Maldives believes that the policies that Iranian Government pursues in the Middle East, and in particular, in the Arabian Gulf region, is detrimental to peace and security in the region, which, in many ways, is also linked to stability, peace and security of the Maldives,” The Maldives Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to Sputnik.

Last month an Islamic Summit in Turkey attended by many of the region’s states called on Iran to respect national sovereignty and practice good neighborliness. Despite these pleas Iran has continued to interfere across borders. Fermenting dissent across the Persian Gulf in Bahrain, supplying weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen and supporting the ailing dictator Bashar al Assad in Syria.

The tiny island, known as King’s Island, is the second state in recent weeks to cool diplomatic relations with Iran after Jordan recalled their ambassador in April over fears of intervention in the domestic affairs of Arab countries. Saudi Arabia and Iran severed ties earlier in January following an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran.