Iran Moves to Reconnect With Bahrain and Egypt

Iran is making moves to rebuild its diplomatic bridges in the region, with top officials confirming that efforts are underway to re-establish ties with Bahrain and further strengthen relations with Egypt.

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On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared that several requests have been made to reconnect with Bahrain since Tehran and Riyadh normalized relations in 2023. He expressed optimism that these efforts will soon pay off, signaling a potential thaw in years of strained ties between Iran and the Gulf kingdom.

Bahrain cut diplomatic relations with Iran back in January 2016, following Saudi Arabia’s lead. The fallout came after angry protests in Iran targeted the Saudi embassy, sparked by the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by Saudi authorities.

But with Iran and Saudi Arabia officially restoring ties in a China-brokered deal in March 2023, the regional dynamic has started to shift. Last October, Araghchi met with King Hamad of Bahrain in Manama to discuss regional developments, including the growing crisis in Gaza and Lebanon, and the possibility of renewing ties.

As for Egypt, Araghchi noted that diplomatic relations have already seen significant progress. He said both countries’ presidents and foreign ministers have met several times recently and are in regular contact.

Egypt and Iran have had a rocky relationship since 1980, when Egypt cut ties after the Islamic Revolution and its decision to host the ousted Shah. However, after the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak’s rule, the door slowly began to open for better relations.

Now, with the ongoing war in Gaza and Egypt’s central role as a mediator, conversations between Cairo and Tehran have become more frequent and more constructive.

While there’s still some way to go, it’s clear that Iran is working to reconnect with key regional players and the diplomatic landscape in the Middle East could soon look very different.