An Iranian government official announced that Bahrain has sent a message through Russia to Iran, aiming to normalize relations after more than eight years. Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy chief of staff for political affairs to the Iranian president, revealed this in a televised interview on Friday.

Referencing the recent agreement to normalize ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia during President Ebrahim Raeisi’s administration, Jamshidi mentioned support from Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the Yemeni resistance.

Jamshidi also noted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had requested to normalize relations with Iran through Chinese President Xi Jinping. Similarly, Bahrain communicated its desire to restore diplomatic ties with Iran through Russia.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah of Bahrain confirmed the move last week during a state visit to China. He emphasized the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in internal affairs while expressing a commitment to restore diplomatic relations with Iran.

Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Iran on January 4, 2016, following protests in Iran against the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia. The Iranian-Saudi agreement to restore relations was reached in Beijing in March 2023.

King Hamad reiterated Bahrain's intention to improve relations with Iran during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 23, stating there was no reason to delay the process. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani recently visited Tehran to offer condolences on the passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi in a helicopter crash on May 19.