Iraq, Bahrain review regional developments

The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, discussed on Wednesday bilateral relations between the two countries and approaches to enhance joint cooperation in different sectors. During their phone conversation, the two leaders addressed regional developments, ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote stability, and the importance of coordination on issues of mutual interest, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Al-Zaidi renewed his invitation to the King of Bahrain to visit Iraq. He also commended Bahrain’s stance and its positive role in the region, emphasizing the importance of promoting relations between the two countries and expanding the horizons of cooperation. The king of Bahrain praised Iraq’s contribution to regional peace and stability, expressed his great admiration for the Iraqi people, and reaffirmed his country’s support for the Iraqi government’s initiatives. The two leaders’ discussion comes a few days after Bahrain formally decided to send its ambassador back to Iraq, signaling a major diplomatic step forward. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani made the announcement on Saturday following a phone conversation. The major development took place after Iraqi al-Zaidi made a formal visit to Manama. Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the crown prince of Bahrain, described al-Zaidi’s trip as historic, pointing out that it was the first time an Iraqi prime minister has visited Bahrain since 2003. Zayani emphasized that reinstating the ambassador demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to enhancing joint cooperation and reinforcing communication channels to support regional stability, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. In the past few years, relations between Iraq and Bahrain have occasionally been strained. In June 2019, Bahrain recalled its ambassador after demonstrators broke into the embassy’s headquarters in Baghdad. In April 2026, Manama summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires due to regional security concerns, despite the appointment of Khalid al-Mansour as a new ambassador in 2024 to improve relations.