In a significant step toward regional reconciliation, Iran and Bahrain have announced their intention to restore diplomatic ties after an eight-year break. This development was formalized in a joint statement released on Sunday by the foreign ministries of both countries, emphasizing their deep-rooted historical, fraternal, religious, and geographical connections.
The announcement followed a meeting between Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on the sidelines of the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Tehran. The two diplomats engaged in extensive discussions to lay the groundwork for future dialogues aimed at fully restoring political relations between their countries.
The 19th ACD Ministerial Meeting, held on Monday, saw participation from 30 international delegations, highlighting the importance of enhanced cooperation and convergence.
Bahrain severed its diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Riyadh following the execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Baqir Nimr in Saudi Arabia. Bahrain, along with other Persian Gulf states, sided with Riyadh and cut ties with Iran.
However, following the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia after negotiations mediated by Iraq, Oman, and China in March last year, many Persian Gulf countries, including Bahrain, have extended an olive branch to Iran. This shift has been attributed to the neighborhood-friendly foreign policy and East-centric focus of the late Iranian president Ebrahim Raeisi.
Before Bahrain, countries such as Kuwait, Sudan, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan had already restored their diplomatic relations with Iran.
In a recent televised interview, Mohammad Jamshidi, the deputy chief of staff for political affairs of the Iranian president, confirmed Bahrain’s move to restore ties with Iran. He revealed that Bahrain had conveyed a message through Russia, expressing a desire to normalize relations after more than eight years. This message was discussed during meetings between Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Bahrain seeking their assistance in brokering the truce.
This rapprochement between Iran and Bahrain marks a notable development in the shifting diplomatic landscape of the Persian Gulf region, signaling a trend toward increased cooperation and stability.
