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Bahrain: We Are Optimistic about Course of Relations with Qatar

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
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Bahrain: We Are Optimistic about Course of Relations with Qatar

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

Bahrain’s relations with Qatar are moving in the right direction after a series of measures to restore ties between the two Gulf states, revealed a Bahraini Foreign Ministry official on Sunday.

According to Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for International Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the shift followed the declaration at the Saudi AlUla Summit in January 2021, which had turned the page on the Gulf row.

“There is a development in the relations with the brothers in Qatar,” Sheikh Abdullah told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The two countries are actively seeking to break the ice in their relations.

On January 26, a phone call conversation took place between Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The phone talks were followed by a meeting at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh on February 7.

The meeting brought together Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

A joint statement said the top diplomats discussed setting up necessary mechanisms and procedures to launch talks at the level of bilateral committees to resolve the special files pending between their countries.

These talks are in line with the stipulations of the AlUla Declaration.

The Bahraini Foreign Ministry, however, did not comment on the “pending files” that the joint statement mentioned.

At the bilateral committees talks, Bahrain’s delegation was headed by Sheikh Abdullah, while the Qatari side was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Hammadi.

Sheikh Abdullah explained that the two parties held joint meetings to clear up the differences.

“We are optimistic that relations between the two countries are moving in the right direction,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

In other news, Sheikh Abdullah, on the sidelines of a Formula 1 presser with international media, said that Bahrain’s relations with Israel contribute to supporting stability in the region and easing tension.

“Bahrain continues to affirm its firm position regarding support for the Palestinian cause, the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish an independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the principle of the two-state solution,” said Sheikh Abdullah.

He further reiterated Manama’s rejection of the Israeli measures against the Palestinians.

“We reject the Israeli settlement policies in the occupied territories, and the assault on Palestinian worshipers, and our positions were reflected in official statements,” said Sheikh Abdullah.

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Gulf

Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.