Rabat- A diplomatic row has erupted between Morocco and Iran over Tehran's alleged questioning of Bahrain's independence, with Rabat recalling its diplomatic representative to Tehran for a week of consultations, Moroccan press reported Thursday.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Tayib Fassi Fihri informed Iran's ambassador that Morocco had been surprised over being singled out for Iranian protests after showing solidarity with Bahrain.

Ali Akbar Nateq Noori, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had previously appeared to question Bahrain's sovereignty, reportedly saying that the Gulf country had earlier been an Iranian province.

Iran later said it was "committed" to Bahrain's independence.

The majority of Arab countries had sided with Bahrain, Fassi Fihri told the ambassador, saying Morocco was "astonished" that its charge d'affaires had been summoned by a senior Iranian foreign ministry official to protest Rabat's stance.

Morocco's solidarity with Bahrain was based on international law, Fassi Fihri insisted. (dpa)