Locations Affected: Bahrain, Iran
In recent months, Bahrain has taken steps to normalize relations with Iran. During his visit to Moscow on 23 May, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa informed Russian President Vladimir Putin about attempts to establish diplomatic, trade, and cultural ties with Iran. Similarly, he conveyed this to Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his visit to Beijing on 31 May. On 23 June, the foreign ministries of Iran and Bahrain issued a cautiously worded statement indicating that the countries had taken steps to restore bilateral relations and had begun talks to release Iranian funds frozen in Bahrain.
The Tense History of Bahrain-Iran Relations
Bahrain and Iran have had a historically estranged relationship. The Sunni-led Bahraini regime has accused Iran of radicalizing its Shiite majority. On the other hand, Iran had previously made territorial claims over Bahrain before recognizing its independence in 1970. However, Iranian state media have continued to claim Bahrain as part of Iranian territory. Furthermore, in 2016, Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, severed diplomatic relations with Iran following the storming of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in response to Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Potential Reasons for the Attempts for Normalization
Bahrain’s attempt to normalize relations with Iran follows the restoration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, brokered by China in 2023, as well as between the United Arab Emirates and Iran in 2022. Bahrain is the last Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state to begin renewing diplomatic relations with Iran.
Steps Taken in Attempt to Improve Ties
- In April, King Hamad pardoned more than 1,500 prisoners, most of whom were involved in the Arab Spring unrest. Bahrain had accused Iran of encouraging unrest and of training and equipping violent groups that attempted to destabilize the country and overthrow the monarchy. The pardoning of prisoners indicates Bahrain’s willingness to move past the tensions between the two countries caused by the unrest.
- There have also been frequent diplomatic visits between the two countries, with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdel Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani attending the inauguration of new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in July, participating in a Tehran meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in June, and conveying condolences after the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May.
Limiting Factors and Potential Outcome
The diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Iran are expected to be complicated, given the past tensions between the two countries. Additionally, Bahrain’s close military relationship with the United States and its diplomatic relations with Israel could limit the normalization attempts. Bahrain’s ruling regime views Iran as a threat to the nation’s security and the regime’s survival. Normalization may depend on Iranian-linked media ceasing to challenge Bahrain’s independence and on Iran cutting ties with militant factions in Bahrain. Experts expect the relationship between Bahrain and Iran to be constrained due to these limiting factors. An improvement in relations between the two countries could decrease regional isolation for Iran and serve as a means of countering the impact of Western sanctions. For Bahrain, it could represent potential economic gains through the resumption of trade and direct flights to Iran. China and Russia could play a crucial role in facilitating renewed relations between Bahrain and Iran.
