Iran and Bahrain agree to discuss restoration of relations
Last Updated on June 25, 2024 9:29 am
Iran and Bahrain have had no diplomatic relations for eight years due to enmity over various issues. However, this time, forgetting the differences, both sides have agreed to start talks to mend the relationship.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain said that a meeting was held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, and the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Ali Bagheri Kani, in Tehran on Sunday (June 23). After the meeting, the two foreign ministers agreed to start talks to restore political relations between the two countries.
In a statement, the ministry said the two sides have agreed to take the necessary steps to begin discussions to figure out how to reactivate political relations.
Bahrain and Iran have been at loggerheads for more than a decade. Manama cut ties with Tehran in 2016 following tensions between Bahrain’s ally Saudi Arabia and Iran. Bahrain blames Iran for its involvement in the 2011 anti-government protests led by the country’s Shia community.
However, in 2016, Saudi Arabia also severed ties with Iran. But Riyadh and Tehran patched up ties last year as part of an agreement brokered by China. If everything goes well with Saudi Arabia, the relationship between Iran and Bahrain will also warm up.
Earlier this month, Iranian media reported that Bahrain sent a request through Russia to restore diplomatic relations with Iran. Apart from this, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa expressed his desire to improve relations with Iran last May.
Source: Al-Jazeera