Bahrain refuses to participate in the “Strait of Hormuz meeting”: We will not meet with Iran.
Bahrain refuses to participate in the “Strait of Hormuz meeting”: We will not meet with Iran.
2026-09-12
Shafaq News – Manama
The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Saturday that the Kingdom of Bahrain will not participate in what is being circulated in the media and social media platforms regarding a proposed ministerial meeting on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and that it will not be a party to any group meeting that includes Iran before the return of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The ministry clarified that “this is a position that has already been communicated to our brothers in the Sultanate of Oman through official channels, and it does not detract from the Kingdom’s appreciation of their sincere efforts, nor from its commitment to dialogue as a means of resolving disputes.”
The ministry added that “the dialogue is not based on ignoring the facts. The Kingdom has been subjected to attacks targeting its infrastructure and civilian facilities. One of these attacks, targeting an ammonia tank, almost led to a comprehensive disaster. The targeting of the (East-West) oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia on Friday came to confirm that targeting civilian and economic facilities is an existing danger, not something that has passed.”
The ministry stressed that “the security and stability of the region is not built on turning a blind eye to attacks, nor is it bought by remaining silent about their effects, nor is it preserved by a policy of appeasement. We adhere to good neighborliness as a legal obligation, not a political courtesy.”
She believes that peace is based on four essential foundations: stopping aggression, establishing international responsibility for it and compensating for the resulting damage, respecting the sovereignty of states and not using the territory of any state as a launching pad for aggression against its neighbors, and settling outstanding issues through legal means.
The ministry clarified 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, be adopted by the International Maritime Organization, safeguard the right of transit passage for all ships without discrimination, fees or permits, and that all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries must contribute to it, given the connection between the security of the passage and the security of their supplies.
The Ministry stressed that “the Kingdom of Bahrain, by virtue of its membership in the UN Security Council and its commitment to joint Gulf action, will continue to work through legal and diplomatic channels to preserve freedom of navigation and the security of the region, and is ready to support any arrangement that enjoys consensus and is based on law. The Kingdom does not close the door to peace, but it does not open it at the expense of the right; for peace that is not based on justice is a truce that is waiting to end.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that it will hold a meeting on the Strait of Hormuz in Oman next Monday, with the participation of Iraq and the Gulf states.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry explained that Monday’s meeting will discuss the results of negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the establishment of safe shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministry added: We have reached an understanding with the Sultanate of Oman regarding temporary routes in the Strait of Hormuz, and we will make efforts to ensure the security of navigation.
The Strait of Hormuz has witnessed a halt in maritime traffic following the outbreak of military conflict between the United States and Iran on February 28, which led to severe disruptions in global energy markets.
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