TEHRAN, Jun 25 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran and Bahrain have agreed to start talks on the resumption of bilateral political relations, following an eight-year diplomatic freeze, the two countries announced in a joint statement.
Iran’s Caretaker Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, and Bahrain Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, met in the Iranian capital, Tehran on Sunday, within the framework of the two countries’ historical and brotherly relations, religious and neighbourly bonds, shared history and mutual interests, according to the joint statement, published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website, yesterday.
“In this meeting, the two sides agreed on the creation of the necessary mechanisms for starting bilateral talks, on how to resume relations between their countries,” the statement said.
The meeting was held, as the Bahraini minister is on a visit to Tehran, at the invitation of the Iranian caretaker foreign minister, to attend the 19th Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting, yesterday, according to the joint statement.
In 2016, Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Iran, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to cut ties with Tehran. The move came in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, which occurred after the execution of a Shiite cleric by Saudi Arabia.
In Mar, last year, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a groundbreaking agreement in China, to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions. The two countries formally declared in Apr last year, the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.– NNN-IRNA
