Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Bahrain to skip Iran Hormuz talks until ties resume
Bahrain said Saturday it would not take part in a planned Oman-hosted meeting between Iran and Gulf states on the Strait of Hormuz until diplomatic relations with Tehran resume.
Iran's foreign ministry had said the Monday meeting in Muscat would discuss the future of the strait, a key route for global oil and gas flows. Iran has blockaded Hormuz during the Middle East war and has been in talks with Oman, whose territorial waters also cover the waterway.
Bahrain's foreign ministry said Manama remained committed to dialogue, but “will not be a party to any collective meeting that includes Iran before the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
The ministry pointed to attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf and said regional security and stability “cannot be preserved through a policy of appeasement.” It called for Hormuz to be open without “discrimination, fees or permits.”
Tehran has been pushing to formalise its control over the waterway, including potentially charging fees for passage. Before the Middle East war, the strait was free to use by shipping from all nations.
Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 alongside Saudi Arabia during an earlier crisis between the regional rivals. Riyadh restored ties with Tehran in 2023, but Manama has not.
Update
Bahrain said it would not join any collective meeting with Iran before diplomatic relations between the two countries resume.
Bahrain's foreign ministry said regional security and stability cannot be preserved through what it called a policy of appeasement.
Bahrain called for the Strait of Hormuz to be open without discrimination, fees or permits.
Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016; Saudi Arabia restored ties with Iran in 2023, while Bahrain has not.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 13:40:20 UTC.
Update
Bahrain said it would not participate in the Hormuz meeting with Iran.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 12:54:18 UTC.
Update
Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has continued for more than six months during the Middle East war.
Oil prices have risen past $100 a barrel this week, according to the source item.
Oman and Iran have been discussing for several weeks how the waterway will be managed in future.
Iran now requires vessels to obtain permission to transit Hormuz and is considering service fees.
Ships that do not comply are regularly targeted by Iranian strikes, while the United States periodically bombs the Iranian coastline, according to the supplied account.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 15:01:31 UTC.
Update
Iran's foreign ministry said the Oman meeting is intended to improve regional understanding and strengthen shared security.
The ministry said Iraq and other littoral Persian Gulf states would participate.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 14:24:29 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The outcome of the planned Muscat meeting remains unknown.
The supplied information does not say which Gulf states will attend after Bahrain's refusal.
Source
AFP news report published on .