Maldives Follows Saudi Lead

Iran Willing to Restore Ties With Bahrain

Date: 13 March 2023 - 22:41

News ID: ۱۱۳۳۵۲

TEHRAN -- Iran said Monday it would welcome restoring ties with Bahrain to end seven years of ruptured relations, following a recent China-brokered deal to heal rifts between Tehran and Riyadh.
“The resumption of political relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia shows the effectiveness and success of the diplomatic solution to resolve misunderstandings,” said Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani.
Tehran, pleased by the rapprochement with the Saudis, believes “relations between Iran and Bahrain are no exception to this rule”, Kanaani added.
Riyadh and Tehran on Friday announced they would reopen embassies and missions within two months and implement security and economic cooperation agreements signed more than 20 years ago.
“With the positive atmosphere that we are witnessing in the region, this positive development can happen in relation to other countries in the region, including Bahrain,” Kanaani said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan said he looks forward to meeting his Iranian counterpart Hussein Amir-Abdollahian soon.
In an interview with Al Sarq al Awsat, bin Farhan stated that Riyadh is ready to resume relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and for meetings with Iranian officials.
“The basic rule in international relations is having diplomatic ties with countries, and this rule is further strengthened in case of the two neighboring countries as vast as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, with religious, cultural and civilizational commonalties, each of which is of great importance,” he noted.
The senior official added that the agreement reached with Iran is the result of Saudi Arabia’s comprehension of its role and responsibility to improve regional security and stability, and decrease tensions.
The Saudi top diplomat stressed that reaching this agreement will lead to full political relations, and shows both countries’ will resolve differences by resorting to peaceful dialogue and diplomacy.
In 2016, Bahrain followed in Riyadh’s footsteps when Saudi Arabia cut ties after Iranian protesters held angry gatherings outside Saudi diplomatic missions following the Saudi execution of revered Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The detente between Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, and Iran has the potential to reshape relations across a region characterized by turbulence for decades.
Some of Saudi Arabia’s Persian Gulf Arab allies have already sent envoys back to Iran.
In September, Iran welcomed an Emirati ambassador after a six-year absence, and a month earlier it said Kuwait had sent its first ambassador to Tehran since 2016.
Kanaani said while Iran has diplomatic relations with Jordan, it is ready to expand them.
“The Islamic Republic’s principled

policy is strengthening relations with neighbors. We are definitely ready to develop ties with Jordan.”

The Maldivian government on Monday announced that it will resume diplomatic ties with Iran after reconciliation between Riyadh and Tehran.

“In light of these positive and welcoming developments, the Government of Maldives has decided to resume diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it said in a statement.

Maldives severed political relations with Iran on May 17, 2016 during the rule of former President Abdullah Yameen.

Prisoner Swap Agreed

Kanaani also said Iran has reached a prisoner exchange deal with the United States, a day after Washington denied it.

He said “a written agreement exists on the issue of U.S. prisoners” and that it could be implemented if the American side takes a “realistic approach”.

Three U.S. citizens are among at least 16 Western passport holders now detained in Iran on various charges.

The United States and the Islamic Republic do not engage in direct negotiations but communicate through mediators.

Kanaani said such talks have led to an agreement a year ago. “In March 2022, a written agreement was reached in this regard, which was also signed by the official representative of the U.S. government,” he said.

He blamed a “technical problem on the American side” as well as U.S. domestic politics and “political campaigns” for a delay in implementing the deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian had first made the announcement on a deal on Sunday.

The Iranian spokesman Monday also touched on the fate of six French nationals being held for various charges.

“I hope that we will see good things happening regarding this issue,” Kanaani said.

He cautioned however that what he called France’s continued “interventionist role” in Iran’s internal affairs would only frustrate efforts to secure their release.

“The French government has adopted a non-constructive position and played an interventionist role in relation to the recent internal developments of Iran,” the diplomat said.

Kanani was referring to French comments on the violent riots that broke out after the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.