Bahrain says won't participate in Hormuz meeting with Iran

Manama, the capital of Bahrain, announced on Saturday that the island nation will not participate in a planned meeting in Oman involving Iran and Gulf states to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. This decision comes amid ongoing attacks on infrastructure throughout the Gulf region. The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that security and stability in the area "cannot be maintained through a policy of appeasement" and advocated for the strait to remain open without any form of discrimination, fees, or permits.

According to Iran's foreign ministry, a meeting would be hosted by Muscat on Monday, with the aim of negotiating the future of the strait, which is crucial for global oil and gas transportation. Iran has been striving to assert control over the waterway, potentially including imposing fees for passage. Negotiations between Muscat and Tehran have been ongoing as Hormuz is covered by both Iran's and Oman's territorial waters.

The Middle East conflict, initiated by the United States and Israel in late February, has resulted in the strait being blocked by Iran. Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its dedication to dialogue but stated that the country "will not be a party to any collective meeting that includes Iran before the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two nations."

Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 alongside Saudi Arabia during a previous dispute between the regional powers. While Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations with Iran in 2023, Bahrain has yet to follow suit.