Bahrain: We will not participate in any collective meeting involving Iran before the restoration of diplomatic relations
“The Foreign Ministry”: We have officially informed the Sultanate of Oman of our position and appreciate its sincere efforts
- Any arrangement for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be based on international law and involve all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
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The Kingdom of Bahrain announced that it will not participate in the proposed ministerial meeting regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, affirming that it will not be a party to any collective meeting involving Iran until diplomatic relations between the two countries are restored.
The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that this position had previously been communicated to its brothers in the Sultanate of Oman through official channels, emphasizing that this stance does not diminish the Kingdom’s appreciation for the Sultanate’s sincere efforts, nor does it affect Bahrain’s commitment to dialogue as a means of resolving differences.
The Ministry added that dialogue is not based on ignoring facts, noting that the Kingdom has suffered attacks targeting its infrastructure and civilian assets. One such attack, which targeted an ammonia storage tank, nearly led to a comprehensive disaster. Meanwhile, the targeting of the “East-West” oil pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday confirmed that attacks on civilian and economic facilities remain a tangible threat.
The Ministry affirmed that regional security and stability are not built on overlooking attacks, remaining silent about their consequences, or pursuing a policy of appeasement. It stressed Bahrain’s commitment to good neighborliness as a legal obligation, not merely a political courtesy.
It clarified that peace rests on four foundations: the cessation of attacks, the establishment of international responsibility for them, and the reparation of damages incurred; respect for state sovereignty and the prohibition of using any country’s territory as a launching pad for attacks on its neighbors; and the settlement of outstanding issues through legal means.
The Ministry reiterated Bahrain’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 countries, given the link between the security of the waterway and the security of their supply lines.
It 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, while remaining ready to support any arrangement that achieves consensus and is based on the law.
The Ministry emphasized that the Kingdom does not close the door to peace, but it will not open it at the expense of justice, affirming that “peace that is not based on justice is merely a truce awaiting its expiration.”
