Bahrain announces non-participation in any meeting involving Iran prior to the restoration of diplomatic relations - Sarmad

Bahrain has announced that it will not participate in any proposed ministerial meeting regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, affirming that it will not be a party to any collective gathering involving Iran until diplomatic relations between the two countries are restored.

This was stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, which clarified that Bahrain will not join any collective meeting that includes Iran prior to the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two nations. This position has already been communicated to the brothers in the Sultanate of Oman through official channels, without detracting from the Kingdom’s appreciation of their sincere efforts or its commitment to dialogue as a means of resolving differences.

The Ministry noted in its statement that dialogue cannot be based on ignoring facts. The Kingdom has suffered attacks targeting its infrastructure and civilian assets; one such attack, which targeted an ammonia tank, nearly led to a comprehensive catastrophe. Furthermore, the targeting of the East-West oil pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday confirmed that attacks on civilian and economic facilities are an imminent threat that has not passed.

The Ministry emphasized that regional security and stability cannot be built on overlooking attacks, purchased by remaining silent about their consequences, or preserved through a policy of appeasement. Bahrain, adhering to good neighborliness as a legal obligation rather than a political courtesy, believes that peace rests on four indispensable foundations: ceasing attacks, establishing international responsibility for them, and compensating for the resulting damage; respecting state sovereignty and ensuring that no state’s territory is used as a launching pad for attacks on its neighbors; and settling outstanding issues through legal means.

The Ministry reiterated the Kingdom’s firm position that any arrangement concerning navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, endorsed by the International Maritime Organization, and must safeguard the right of innocent passage for all ships without discrimination, fees, or permits. It must also involve all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, given the link between the security of the waterway and the security of their supply chains.

The Ministry affirmed that, by virtue of its membership in the UN Security Council and its commitment to joint Gulf action, Bahrain will continue to work through legal and diplomatic channels to safeguard freedom of navigation and regional security. It stands ready to support any arrangement that achieves consensus and is grounded in law. The Kingdom does not close the door to peace, but it will not open it at the expense of justice; peace that is not founded on justice is merely a truce awaiting its expiration.