Bahrain–Iran relations

Bahrain–Iran relations

Bahrain
Iran

Bahrain–Iran relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, relations between the two countries have been strained over different geo-political issues such as the interpretations of Islam, aspirations for leadership of the Islamic world, and relations with the United States, Europe and other Western countries. In addition, Iran has been severely critical of Bahrain, after the kingdom permitted the United States to host its Fifth Fleet naval base within the Persian Gulf.

After the Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad was ransacked by Iranian protesters following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, Bahrain followed Saudi Arabia's decision by severing diplomatic relations with Iran on January 4, 2016.[1]

Relations under Pahlavi dynasty

Iran had a historic claim to Bahrain until March 1970 when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi abandoned the claim as a result of secret Anglo-Iranian negotiations.[2] Following this realignment of policy, the two countries signed a demarcation agreement in 1970.[3]

Relations under the Islamic republic

Following the Iranian Revolution in which Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in Iran in 1979, Iran made clear its intention to export its Islamic Revolution throughout the Muslim world, especially in the Arab world.[4][5]

Two years later, Bahraini Shia fundamentalists orchestrated a failed coup attempt under the auspices of a front organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain. The coup would have installed a Shia cleric exiled in Iran, Hujjat al-Islam Hādī al-Mudarrisī, as the Supreme Leader of Bahrain with a theocratic government. The Bahraini government unofficially regarded the coup as Iran attempting to overthrow their Sunni government. Iran denied any involvement saying the fundamentalists were inspired by the Iranian revolution but had received no support from Iran.[6] Fearful of a recurrence, the situation caused Bahrain to crack down on its Shia population putting thousands into jail and further souring relations with Iran.

On November 2007, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made his first official visit to Bahrain and met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.[7] President Ahmadinejad also discussed future agreements to supply Bahrain with natural gas during his meeting with the Bahraini King and Bahraini officials. Iran and Bahrain are beginning to enjoy closer relations again and have engaged in many joint economic ventures.

March 2011 protests in Bahrain

In the aftermath of the March 2011 protests in Bahrain, Iran has expressed strong support for demonstrators, the majority of whom follow Shia Islam, which is Iran's state religion.[8][9] Relations between Tehran and Manama have cooled considerably during the uprising, with both countries expelling one another's ambassadors.[10][11] Iran was joined by Iraq in opposing the Gulf Cooperation Council's military intervention in Bahrain.[12] Allies of the Bahraini government, such as Saudi Arabia and other GCC member states, have conversely blamed Iran for inciting upheaval in the small archipelago country and questioned the legitimacy of the protesters' demands,[13] echoing Manama's claims.[14]

On 12 August 2012, Foreign Minister of Bahrain Sheikh Khalid al-Khalifa announced from his Twitter account that Bahrain has reinstated its ambassador to Iran, nearly 18 months after relations between the two countries were strained following the 2011 Bahrain protests.[15][16]

On 19 July 2015, after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei voiced support for the oppressed people across the Middle East including Bahrain, the Iranian acting chargé d'affaires Morteza Sanubari was summoned by the Foreign Minister of Bahrain over "flagrant interference". The foreign minister handed "an official protest memorandum" to the diplomat over "statements made by Ali Khamenei against the Kingdom of Bahrain".[17]

On 13 August 2015, the Bahrain Interior Ministry announced arresting of five members of a terrorist group which was linked to at least one bombing attack in Sitra[18] and was believed to accept aid and training from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).[19]

On 1 October 2015 (a week after the 2015 Mina stampede), the Bahraini government recalled its ambassador from Tehran and ordered the Iranian acting chargé d'affaires to leave the country within 3 days in response to "continuing interference by Iran in the affairs of the kingdom". This comes after Bahraini authorities in Nuwaidrat (30 September) discovered a large bomb-making factory and seized a large stash of weapons and arrested a number of people suspected of having links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards.[20] Bahrain's decision to recall its ambassador comes "in light of continued Iranian meddling in the affairs of the kingdom of Bahrain ... in order to create sectarian strife and to impose hegemony and control.[21][22] In response (on 2 October), the Iranian Foreign Ministry retaliated by releasing this statement: "The number two official in Bahrain's embassy in Tehran is persona non grata and Mr. Bassam al-Dossari must leave Iran's territory within 72 hours," the official IRNA news agency quoted a foreign ministry statement as saying late Friday.[23]

Relations following 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran

The Saudi embassy in Tehran after the attack

Following the attacks, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain has "strongly condemned the two terrorist attacks on the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad in the Islamic Republic of Iran." In a statement it said that "these demagogic and barbarian acts represent flagrant violation to the international convictions and norms, and the Vienna Convention which all safeguard the security and protection to the diplomatic missions."[24]

On 4 January 2016, Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Iran, accusing it of interference in Saudi internal affairs after Saudi Arabia executed prominent Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr for his involvement in 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests.[25] This was followed by the same decision of the Saudi government.[26]

On 9 January 2016, Bahrain's national airline Gulf Air announced that it would suspend flights between Bahrain International Airport and Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport on 14 January. Mohammad Khodakarami, the deputy for aviation and international affairs of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO), has been quoted in state media as saying that Gulf Air made the announcement through a letter to the Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization. Mr. Khodakarami said that the airline’s flights will remain suspended until a further notice.[27]

Revocation of Isa Qassim's citizenship

Isa Qassim pictured in 2007

On 20 June 2016, Isa Qassim was stripped of his Bahraini citizenship. An interior ministry statement accused Sheikh Isa Qassim of using his position to "serve foreign interests" and promote "sectarianism and violence". Announcing the move to strip him of his Bahraini citizenship, the interior ministry said the cleric had "adopted theocracy and stressed the absolute allegiance to the clergy". It added that he had been in continuous contact with "organisations and parties that are enemies of the kingdom". Bahrain's citizenship law allows for the cabinet to revoke the citizenship of anyone who "causes harm to the interests of the kingdom or behaves in a way inimical with the duty of loyalty to it".[28][29][30]

Iranian reactions

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bahrain cuts diplomatic ties with Iran". Al Jazeera. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Alvandi, Roham (2010). "Muhammad Reza Pahlavi and the Bahrain Question, 1968–1970". British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. 32 (2): 159–177. doi:10.1080/13530191003794723.
  3. ↑ Mokhtari, Fariborz (Spring 2005). "No One Will Scratch My Back: Iranian Security Perceptions in Historical Context" (PDF). The Middle East Journal. 59 (2). Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  4. ↑ ...bring about similar revolutions in the neighboring Muslim states... Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
  5. ↑ http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26414.htm
  6. ↑ Persian Gulf States Table of Contents U.S. Library of Congress
  7. ↑ O'Rourke, Breffni (15 November 2007). "Iran: Ahmadinejad's Bahrain Visit New Piece In Complex Pattern". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Staff writer (16 March 2011). "Iran Condemns Bahraini Assault". Reuters (via The Irish Times).
  9. ↑ "Iran FM Discusses Bahrain Crisis with UN, AL Chiefs". Iranian Students News Agency. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Staff writer (20 March 2011). "Iran Escalates Diplomatic Row with Bahrain". United Press International.
  11. ↑ "Bahrain Recalls Envoy to Iran". Gulf Daily News. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Shiites Rally Behind Bahrain Protesters". Agence France-Presse (via ABC News). 17 March 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  13. ↑ Jaffe, Greg (22 April 2011). "Bahrain crackdown fueling tensions between Iran, Saudi Arabia". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  14. ↑ Slavin, Barbara (20 July 2011). "Bitter Divides Persist Below Bahrain's Relatively Calm Surface". IPS News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  15. ↑ Al Kalifa, Khaled. "Tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  16. ↑ El Gamal, Rania (12 August 2012). "Bahrain returns its ambassador to Iran". Reuters. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  17. ↑ http://news.yahoo.com/bahrain-summons-iran-diplomat-over-flagrant-interference-181650072.html
  18. ↑ Hou, Qiang. "Bahrain arrests 5 suspects over late July blast, claims Iran's role discovered". Xinhua.
  19. ↑ "Sitra bombing suspects arrested". Bahrain News Agency.
  20. ↑ http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/bahrain-recalls-ambassador-iran-meddling-151002032510372.html
  21. ↑ Bahrain withdraws ambassador from Iran. The Daily Star.
  22. ↑ Bahrain withdraws ambassador from Tehran. Gulf News.
  23. ↑ http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Oct-03/317517-iran-expels-bahrain-envoy-state-media.ashx
  24. ↑ http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/704348
  25. ↑ Ahmed A Omran. "Bahrain Severs Diplomatic Ties with Iran". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  26. ↑ John Bacon. "Saudi Arabia severs ties with Iran". USA Today. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  27. ↑ "Gulf Air suspends flights to Iran". Press TV. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  28. ↑ Wam. "Bahrain revokes citizenship of man accused of extremism". Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  29. ↑ "Bahrain strips Sheikh Isa Qassim of nationality". Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  30. ↑ "Bahrain revokes top Shia cleric Isa Qassim's citizenship". Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  31. ↑ "Iran supreme leader: Bahrain's move against top cleric risks violence". 26 June 2016 – via Reuters.
  32. ↑ "Revocation of Qassim's citizenship sign of Al-Khalifa's 'last breaths'". 21 June 2016.
  33. ↑ Black, Ian (20 June 2016). "Iran says Bahrain has crossed line by stripping Shia cleric of citizenship". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
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