Bahrain says it will not participate in Iran’s proposed Hormuz meeting

Iran tells Al Jazeera that Monday’s meeting is a sign of ‘good intentions’ towards neighbouring countries.Bahrain says it will not be participating in a proposed meeting in Oman between Iran and other regional countries to discuss safe passage for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.Tehran has effectively blockaded the shipping channel throughout the war, stopping Gulf oil and gas exports worldwide, but Iran’s foreign ministry said a meeting is planned on Monday in Muscat for “consultations” on the strait’s future.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline hit by drones launched from Iraqlist 2 of 4Fighting re-erupts in Yemen and civilians are paying the pricelist 3 of 4Iran-backed Houthis seize strategic Mayun Island: Can they hold it?list 4 of 4Will the Houthi attacks activate the Mecca Pact?end of list“In light of what has been circulated … the Kingdom of Bahrain will not participate in it,” Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.Pointing to attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf, Bahrain said that security and stability in the region “cannot be preserved through a policy of appeasement” and called for Hormuz to be open without “discrimination, fees or permits”.Tehran has been pushing to formalise its control over the waterway, including potentially charging fees for passage, and has been in negotiations with Muscat, as Oman’s territorial waters also cover Hormuz.The strait was free to use by shipping from all nations before the US and Israel attacked Iran late in February, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said it maintains its commitment to dialogue, but “will not be a party to any collective meeting that includes Iran before the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries”.Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 alongside Saudi Arabia during an earlier crisis between the regional rivals. While Riyadh restored ties in 2023, Manama is yet to do so.‘We will talk to our neighbours’Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the meeting is “a sign of Iran’s good intention because we have said all along that the security of the region must be guaranteed by the countries of the region, without intervention by the foreigners, without intervention by the outside powers”.