While Iran announced that it will hold a meeting in Oman on the 14th (local time) to discuss issues related to the Strait of Hormuz with Gulf nations, Bahrain has declared that it will not attend the meeting.

On the 12th, AFP, Reuters, and Xinhua News Agency reported that the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it will not participate as a party in any meeting involving Iran until diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Iran are restored.

Bahrain previously severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016, alongside Saudi Arabia.

While Saudi Arabia restored relations with Iran in 2023, Bahrain has not yet restored diplomatic relations.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it conveyed this position to Oman through official channels.

However, it stated that this does not undermine Bahrain's appreciation for Oman's efforts or Bahrain's commitment to dialogue as a means of resolving disputes.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed to attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf, including in Bahrain, and argued that regional security and stability cannot be maintained through a policy of appeasement that ignores reality.

In addition, regarding the recent attack on Saudi Arabia's major East-West Pipeline, it added, "This shows that attacks on civilian and economic facilities remain a realistic threat."

At the same time, Bahrain urged that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open without discrimination, tolls, or permits.

Previously, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the day before that a meeting would be held in Oman on the 14th to discuss the future operation of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is visiting India to attend the BRICS summit, also confirmed the holding of the meeting in an interview with the Indian broadcaster India Today on the same day, stating that an agreement with Oman regarding the designation of joint shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz could be signed during this meeting in the presence of Gulf foreign ministers and notified to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), according to Iran's ISNA news agency.

However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the meeting would not reach the stage of signing an agreement with Gulf nations regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

The official added that Iran still wants to collect fees from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but Oman is opposed to it.