Bahrain does not attend the meeting between Iran and Gulf countries on Ormuz

O Bahrain “will not take part in any collective meeting that Iran is part of before the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, adding that the passage of ships through the Strait of Ormuz should be guaranteed “without discrimination, fees or permissions.”.

Iran will meet on Monday with the Gulf countries on the Strait of Ormuz, blocked more than six months ago by Iranian forces, announced on Friday the diplomacy of Tehran.

“ This meeting should promote a better understanding between the countries of the region and contribute to the strengthening of common regional security,” said Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman to journalists.

Representatives from Iraq and other Gulf coastal states take part in the meeting on Monday, said the spokesman of the Iranian Ministry, without specifying at the time which of the other five states of the organisation (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) would be present.

After the start of the U.S. and Israel offensive on 28 February against the Islamic Republic, Iranian forces placed commercial navigation in the Strait of Ormuz under military threat, passing about 20% of the world’s liquefied oil and natural gas before the war.

This blockade, which persists six months after the outbreak of hostilities, continues to put pressure on oil prices, which this week have again exceeded the symbolic mark of $100 per barrel.

Iran and Oman, two countries separated by the strait, have been discussing the future management of this passage for several weeks, including safe routes for commercial navigation and the possible tolling for use, which was free and clear before the conflict began.

Ships transiting through the Strait of Ormuz without Tehran are frequent targets of military attacks, while the United States sporadically bombards the Iranian coast to challenge the control demanded by the Islamic Republic.

The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “in addition to other regional issues, the results of negotiations between Iran and Oman on the establishment of safe maritime routes in the Strait of Ormuz will also be discussed.”.

Esmaeil Baghaei noted that the meeting represents “an important step forward” to foster trust among regional powers and expressed the hope that “opens the way to a greater understanding” among them, “free from destructive interventions by actors outside the region.”.

Prior to Tehran's confirmation, the Financial Times had reported on the preparation of a meeting in Oman between the chief diplomats of the Gulf Cooperation Council on the Strait of Ormuz.

According to the British newspaper, Iran and Oman seek the support of the Gulf Council countries for the agreement and cause the United States to suspend the blockade they have applied to Iranian ports in the meantime.

On the other hand, according to the Financial Times, the countries of the region seek to ensure that any understanding is temporary, so as to allow the entry and exit of ships into the strait while negotiating the “future status” of the maritime passage.