Bahrain rules out talks with Iran before restoring diplomatic ties

Amid media and social media reports about a proposed ministerial meeting on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the Kingdom will not participate in, nor be party to, any collective meeting involving Iran before diplomatic relations between the two countries are restored. The ministry noted that this position had already been communicated to Oman through official channels, emphasizing that it does not diminish Bahrain’s appreciation for Oman’s sincere efforts or its own commitment to dialogue as a means of resolving disputes.

In an official statement, the ministry added that dialogue cannot ignore the facts on the ground. Bahrain has been subjected to attacks targeting its infrastructure and civilian facilities, including one incident involving an ammonia tank that nearly resulted in a major disaster. The recent attack on the "East-West" oil pipeline in neighboring Saudi Arabia on Friday further underscores that threats to civilian and economic installations remain a present danger, not a thing of the past.

The ministry stressed that regional security and stability cannot be achieved by overlooking such attacks, remaining silent about their consequences, or through appeasement. Bahrain considers good neighborliness a legal obligation, not merely a political courtesy, and believes that peace rests on four essential pillars: halting attacks, establishing international accountability and compensating for damages, respecting the sovereignty of states and refraining from using any country’s territory to attack its neighbors, and resolving outstanding issues through legal means.

According to the ministry’s statement, Bahrain reaffirmed its longstanding position that any arrangement regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, be adopted by the International Maritime Organization, guarantee the right of transit passage for all ships without discrimination, fees, or permits, and involve all Gulf Cooperation Council states, given the link between the security of the strait and their energy supplies.

The statement added that, as a member of the UN Security Council and in line with its commitment to joint Gulf action, Bahrain will continue to work through legal and diplomatic channels to safeguard freedom of navigation and regional security. The Kingdom is ready to support any arrangement that enjoys consensus and is based on law. Bahrain does not close the door to peace, but will not open it at the expense of justice; peace without justice is merely a truce awaiting its end.

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