As Iran and Arab Gulf states are pushing a multilateral meeting in Oman to discuss how to manage the Strait of Hormuz, a linchpin of Middle East maritime logistics, Bahrain has formally said it will not take part.
According to AFP, Reuters and other foreign media on the 13th, Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made clear it will not join any multilateral talks led by or involving Iran until the suspension of diplomatic ties with Iran is lifted and normal relations resume.
Bahrain previously cut diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016 in step with Saudi Arabia. While Saudi Arabia opened the door to talks in 2023 and normalized ties, Bahrain still has not restored relations.
Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it officially notified Oman, the mediator of the talks, of the decision, while explaining that it does not intend to dismiss the value of dialogue for resolving disputes or to downplay Oman's mediation efforts.
However, citing recent attacks on key infrastructure in the Gulf region, including in its own country, it noted that a conciliatory stance divorced from reality cannot ensure peace and stability on the Middle East continent. In particular, it pointed to the strike on Saudi Arabia's key logistics artery, the East–West Pipeline, as an example, and stressed that armed threats against civilian and industrial facilities continue. Accordingly, it reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain freely open without any discrimination, fees, or prior-approval procedures.
Meanwhile, Iran appears optimistic that the talks on the 14th will produce significant results. Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's president, who is in India to attend the BRICS summit, said in a local media interview that with Gulf foreign ministers gathered, Iran could conclude an agreement with Oman on setting joint lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and submit it to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
At the same time, caution is being raised within Iran. In particular, Iran has repeatedly demanded a plan to collect tolls from ships passing through the strait, but with Oman, the mediator, opposing the idea, it appears that coordinating specific views will take time.