Manama: Bahrain said Saturday it will not participate in a proposed ministerial meeting on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz or any multilateral meeting involving Iran before diplomatic relations between Manama and Tehran are restored.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Foreign Ministry clarified that Bahrain will not engage in any collective meeting involving Iran until diplomatic relations are reestablished. This stance was communicated to the Sultanate of Oman through official channels, emphasizing that Bahrain values dialogue for resolving disputes, without undermining Oman's efforts.

The ministry highlighted recent attacks on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, asserting that dialogue must consider these incidents. It stressed that any arrangement regarding the Strait of Hormuz should ensure unrestricted transit passage for all ships without discrimination, fees, or permits.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that foreign ministers from Arab states would convene in Muscat on Monday to establish a joint Iran-Oman shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, tensions have escalated with the US and Israel launching a war on Iran on February 28, leading to missile and drone attacks by Tehran.

In June, the US and Tehran reached a memorandum of understanding to cease military operations and guarantee commercial ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the agreement faltered, with renewed US strikes on Iran and a naval blockade on Iranian ports.