Bahrain 'working' to restore relations with Iran, says King Hamad
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah says his Persian Gulf country is working to restore diplomatic relations with neighboring Iran after a hiatus of more than eight years.
The 74-year-old monarch made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where he is on a state visit.
King Hamad stated that Bahrain, as a country that wants peace, forgiveness and human coexistence, needs dialogue and peaceful diplomacy.
“We believe in the principle of good neighborliness and non-interference in internal affairs," he said. “We are working to restore diplomatic relations with Iran as a neighbor.”
Hamad said his country welcomes China’s support for efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in West Asia, as well as attempts alongside other relevant parties to promptly deal with the repercussions of the situation in Palestine.
Back in March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement in the Chinese capital of Beijing to restore their diplomatic relations and re-open embassies and missions.
Bahrain followed Saudi Arabia to sever diplomatic relations with Iran on January 4, 2016, after Iranian protesters, enraged by the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by the Saudi government, stormed its diplomatic mission in Iran.
Last week, the first deputy speaker of Bahrain’s Council of Representatives said his country intends to take measures soon to revive diplomatic relations with Iran.
“Resumption of political and commercial relations between the two countries is of great importance, because Iran is a neighboring country and Bahrain supports stable ties with all regional states,” Abdulnabi Salman said.
He said the desire to resume relations between Manama and Tehran has been met with a positive response from the Bahraini government and the Council of Representatives, and the legislature has even put out a positive statement in this regard.
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During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 23, Bahrain’s King Hamad said Manama looked forward to improving its relations with Iran.
He added that there was no reason to postpone the restoration of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Iran, according to the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
Last week, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani visited Tehran to offer condolences on the passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi, who lost his life alongside seven others in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran on May 19.
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