Iran has condemned Turkey and Jordan for their participation in Monday's joint naval exercises with Israel and the United States in the Mediterranean. Tehran radio said the exercises would escalate tension in the region and urged Ankara and Amman to review their relations with the Jewish state. Jordan said it would take part as an observer in the manoeuvres - which have been widely criticised by the Arab world. The BBC's Iranian affairs reporter, Sadeq Saba, reports that the Islamic Republic is angry at the growing ties between Israel - its arch-enemy - and Turkey:

Tehran radio said that the aim of the joint military exercises involving Turkish, Israeli and American troops was to undermine the security of the region. It said the growing military cooperation between Turkey and Israel has disturbed the balance of power in the area, and emphasised that Iran would not stand idly by in the face of these developments.

But despite the warnings Turkey has been improving its military relations with Israel during the past two years, and the Iranian government has not been able to persuade its Muslim neighbour to cancel the joint manoeuvres. Tehran radio said that Iran would soon adopt what it described as new political measures to bring back the old balance of power to the region.

It warned Turkey and Jordan that if they do not review their relations with Israel they would face isolation. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said that Jordan's decision to send an observer to the exercises was an unwelcome measure and it was opposed by all Islamic countries.

Most Arab countries have indeed criticised the exercises and the military ties between Turkey and Israel. Iran has also reminded Turkey and Jordan that their actions contradict the resolutions of the recent Islamic conference in Tehran which drew attention to the dangers of the Israeli influence in the region.