Bahrain says it will not participate in Iran’s proposed Hormuz meeting

What the report says

Bahrain said it will not take part in an Iran-backed regional meeting planned for Monday in Muscat, Oman, that is meant to discuss safe passage for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement, reported by Al Jazeera on Saturday, came as Tehran said the gathering would bring together Iran and neighbouring states for consultations on the waterway’s future.

According to Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry, the kingdom still supports dialogue but will not join any collective meeting that includes Iran until diplomatic relations between the two countries resume. Manama also argued that regional security cannot be maintained through appeasement and called for the strait to remain open without discrimination, fees or permits. Bahrain cut ties with Iran in 2016 during a wider Gulf crisis and has not restored them, unlike Saudi Arabia, which did so in 2023.

Al Jazeera also quoted Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, as saying the proposed meeting reflects Tehran’s willingness to speak with neighbouring countries and to discuss regional security without outside powers. He said the delegation would be briefed on Iran-Oman talks about ship passage in the strait. The report added that an unnamed senior Iranian official told Reuters the meeting is unlikely to produce a signed agreement, while Tasnim news agency said any Iran-Oman understanding would not immediately reopen the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic shipping route for Gulf oil and gas exports, so any changes to access or control over it carry major economic and security implications.