Turkish Journal -Şevval Erdağ- In 2016, Iran and Bahrain had severed their diplomatic relations. After 8 years, they have decided to initiate talks to restore diplomatic relations.
Bahrain Foreign Minister al-Zayani had arrived in Tehran to attend the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani met in the capital Tehran.
Following the meeting, the joint statement issued indicated that the two ministers agreed to initiate bilateral talks to restore diplomatic relations between Tehran and Manama, which were severed 8 years ago.
Bahrain and Iran Relations
After Saudi Arabia executed 47 individuals, including Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, on charges of “terrorism” on January 2, 2016, demonstrators in Iran set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad. Following these events, the two countries severed diplomatic relations.
Most Gulf and Arab countries had supported Riyadh’s decision. Bahrain also announced in January 2016 that it had cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
After Saudi Arabia resumed relations with Iran with China’s mediation on March 10, 2023, seven years later, Bahrain announced that it welcomed this development.
According to Iranian news sources, it was reported that Bahrain had sent a request via Russia in early June to re-establish diplomatic relations with Iran. (AA)
Photo:AA
